By NICOLA BRENNAN-TUPARA

Eddie Freeman is preparing to break New Zealand's land speed record. Waikato Times reporter Nicola Brennan-Tupara took the opportunity to do a lap with Eddie at Hampton Downs.
 
The last time a Kiwi beat the country's land speed record, it nearly killed him – but that doesn't faze the latest driver to take on the challenge.
Businessman Eddie Freeman seemed pretty cool, calm and collected when he spoke to the Waikato Times yesterday about getting his Lamborghini Superleggera over 348.23kmh – the current record.

That record was set in 1996 by Owen Evans, who nearly lost his life after loosing control of his Porsche 911 Turbo.
"It's never going to be risk-free," Freeman said.
"But we are pretty confident we can try to mitigate the risk as much as possible and come out on the other side – hopefully me and the car."
Freeman, the founder of FreemanX, has souped up his Superleggera (now worth well over $450,000) especially for the record attempt, which he hopes to take on in April at Auckland Airport.
At its standard specification, the car has a top speed of 315kmh, but after spending six months being modified in the United States it can now far surpass that.

"The stock standard that it puts out is 530 horse power, but we've fully rebuilt the engine and strengthened it to handle more horsepower, added a couple of turbo chargers, a whole new transmission, high speed gears and a racing clutch.
"The chassis is still the same, but now it has the capability of 1500 rear-wheel horse power."
After test driving it on America's highways he was "pretty confident" he could break the current record – but why would he want to?

"I guess sometimes it's a question of why not? [The record] has been dormant for 15 years and with the FreemanX Supercars we had the cars available so we thought `yeah, let's give it a go'."
"It's a great project and good exposure."
FreemanX has been operating in New Zealand and Australia for 10 years and offers various high-adrenaline activities – including hot laps in some of the world's fastest, most expensive cars, around the Hampton Downs Raceway.

FAST LAPS SET HEART PUMPING
Terror was one of a vast array of emotions swirling through my body as I accepted a ride in a car that could soon be the fastest in New Zealand.

But I'm not one to turn down a fast lap in one of the world's most exotic vehicles. So, after texting my husband to tell him I love him – just in case – I jumped into the souped-up Lamborghini.
While it wasn't my first time in a Lamborghini – I drove a Murcielago around Hampton Downs track a couple of years back – I never reached the speeds Freeman is aspiring to.
I managed 195kmh. The current New Zealand land speed record stands at 348.23kmh.
So I strapped on my seatbelt and hoped for the best.

"You ready?" Freeman asked before flooring it. "Wow" was the only thing I could get out of my mouth after having my head rapidly thrust back into the seat.
Faster and faster we went – gear after gear. Top speed between 260 and 270kmh.
Awesome.

Three laps later and my heart is pumping faster than it ever has – but for all that, not one swear word came out of my mouth. I'm told by one of the pit guys that I handled it better than a male radio reporter earlier that day. Apparently he screamed like a girl.
"Not me," I say. "I loved it. I want to wake up like this every day."

Freeman promises me I can have the car after the record's broken – so cross your fingers.

- © Fairfax NZ News

For this article and the video please click here

By Shaun Summerfield

Lap records have been tumbling at race circuits all over the country as the controversial new V8 Supertourer hits the track. Greg Murphy has been the frontrunner in the biggest test session at Hampton Downs - the perfect way to start what will be a fast paced 2012.

At an age when many drivers hang up their helmets Murphy is set for his busiest year of racing, the 39 year old doing double duty on both sides of the Tasman.

“I wanna be a part of it, it'll be a busy year across the ditch too, I'm looking forward to how much racing we'll be doing,” he says.

Murphy was debuting his new Supertourer alongside team mate Paul Manuel.

“It’s a treat, New Zealand motorsport has been screaming out for a car like this for years,” says Manuell.

Not all the screams were in favour of the new series, which saw almost all the big names quit the New Zealand V8's, sparking a bitter battle.

“I just knew it was always going to happen. It’s a shame that there has been some negativity but I believed in it, and there was no way it wasn't going to fly,” says Murphy.

With NZV8 championship leader Angus Fogg lining up for a place in the Supertourers, it's clear which series has the drivers vote.

While Fogg is likely to change camps to Holden the Ford team has signed Bathurst winner Steven Richards - But there's no mistaking the main attraction as Murphy returns to drive in a Kiwi series for the first time in nearly 15 years.

Lap record, set today, is expected to be broken in 10 days time when all 16 Supertourers return to Hampton Downs for the series launch.

3 News

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The cars may be the stars of the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series, but a couple of young guns are showing more seasoned campaigners the way around lately.

The cars were originally raced before Michael Lyons, 21, and Alan Dunkley, 22, were born and now the pair are fizzing them around the track like they're just off the production line.

The two youngest competitors in the field were the stars at the championship's latest round at Hampton Downs last weekend as part of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing.

Lyons was in the groove straight off, setting the fastest qualifying lap and then going on to win all four races in his Lola T400. Dunkley also impressed in his Class A car (for older machines), a high-wing Lola T140, built in 1968, by being the fastest.

The pair are in action again at Hampton Downs this weekend for the fourth round of the series, at the second festival meeting, and both see no reason why they can't carry on from where they left off last Sunday.

"Last year it was all a bit last-minute," said Lyons. "I hadn't really driven the car much either. This time we did most of the British championship, which I won, and we were better prepared with the car."

Lyons has benefited from his first full season driving a Ferrari 458 in the British GT championship (where he finished third) and in two rounds of the European GT3 championship, where again he managed a podium place.

Dunkley is a former North Island kart champion who moved up to Formula First single-seaters and has more recently been racing in the Suzuki Swift Cup, in which he finished fifth in the 2009/10 series.

The youngsters won't find it any easier this weekend. The man who set a new lap record in his McRae GM1, Steve Ross, will want to get one back over Lyons, and he'll be joined by defending and three-time series champion Ken Smith (in a Lola T430) and this season's Lady Wigram Trophy race winner, Jay Esterer (McRae GM1).

With several regular drivers and three visiting Americans unable to make the first festival meeting, this weekend's grid will accommodate seven extra cars, taking the total to 30.

The Americans, Seb Coppola (Lola T192), Harin DeSilva (Surtees TS8) and Scott Drnek (Lola T400), are joining veteran compatriot Eric Haga (Lola T190).

Melbourne-based expat Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) and locals David Abbott (Lola T430) and Russell Greer (Lola T332) will be on the grid, as well as visiting British driver Greg Thornton, with a new engine in his Chevron B24. Having driven a Lola T300 last weekend, compatriot Mike Whatley will be back behind the wheel of his Class A Surtees TS8.

The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series then heads south for the penultimate round at the Skope Classic meeting at Christchurch's Ruapuna Park on February 4-5.

By Eric Thompson

For this article by NZ Herald and more click here

BMW is celebrating its rich history of saloon car racing in New Zealand with a display of three of its most treasured racers.

The cars are drawn from the maker's AG Classic museum in Munich, and comprise the BMW 3.0CSL, an original E30 M3 that won the German touring car championship, and the M1ProCar that raced at Le Mans.

The 3.0CSL, nicknamed the "Batmobile", won the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nurburgring with New Zealander Chris Amon at the wheel.

It will be on display during this weekend's Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs, but it won't be seen in action on the track, unlike the M3 and M1ProCar. The 3.0CSL is the only example in the AG Classic museum and the risk of damaging it, even during a low-speed demonstration, is too great.

Race driver and BMW training specialist Mike Eady has been behind the wheel of the raucous M1ProCar at Hampton Downs, while AG Classic staffer Andreas Riehl has been punting the M3.

The five-speed gearbox in the M1ProCar has ratios set up for Le Mans-type circuits, and is too tall for the tight Hampton Downs layout.

Eadie said he took some corners in first gear and didn't get out of fourth: "The car's good for 320km/h, but not on this circuit."

German Riehl and his colleague Max Flueckiger are AG Classic specialists and travel the world with museum cars, preparing them for displays such as the NZ festival.

"Not just the cars we have brought to New Zealand but many others as well," said Riehl.

So how much are the three BMW museum pieces worth? "More than €1 million [$1.6 million]," he said.

Riehl and Flueckiger will pack up the three cars and head back to Munich after this weekend. A display in the United States is next on the schedule.

By Alastair Sloane

For this article and more go to the NZ Herald or click here

The newly installed engine in Steve Ross' McRae GM1 worked a treat over the weekend, allowing the Dunedin F5000 racer to set a track lap record at the Hampton Downs circuit south of Auckland.

Heading into the F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series meeting, the record for the 2.8km track belonged to Aucklander Ken Smith, with a fastest time of 1min.01.210sec set last year. Young English racer Michael Lyons lowered that to 1min 0.813sec in the first race on Saturday but Ross went even more quickly in the fourth and final outing on Sunday, trimming it to 1min 0.497sec on the second lap.

His top speed during the race was 268.15kmh.

Ross was quick to share the praise for his achievement.

"I've held a few class lap records but never an outright track one. All credit to the Motorsport Solutions team who prepare and run the car. They've done a brilliant job this weekend. The car was flying, absolutely flying."

Driving a Lola T400, Lyons won every race but as he has missed the series' first two rounds, it leaves Ross still in the lead with three rounds to go.

Ross chased Lyons home for second in the first and fourth races and described the 20-year-old from Essex, north of London, as a "bloody good driver".

In the second race, Ross tangled with Aucklander Clark Proctor on the first corner and wound up 16th out of 22 finishers.

"It spun us both around and I ended up at the back of the field," Ross said.

The third race was almost a non-event because of the intervention for four of the eight laps of the safety car while a bent Begg FM2 was retrieved from the safety barriers but Ross managed a fourth place.

The series continues at Hampton Downs again this weekend before moving to Ruapuna Park, Christchurch, for the penultimate meeting the following weekend.

• Kimi Raikkonen's Formula One comeback picked up speed in Valencia yesterday when the Finn, returning with Lotus, tested a grand prix car for the first time since 2009, Reuters reports.

The "Iceman", 2007 world champion with Ferrari and winner of 18 races with the Italian team and McLaren, is returning to Formula One this season after two years in the world rally championship.

Lotus, formerly Renault, said the 32-year-old aimed to drive as many laps as possible in the two days at the Spanish circuit to get acquainted with his new team and reacclimatise himself with a Formula One car.

"It was nice to get back in the car," Raikkonen, who will be one of six champions on the grid this season, said.

"It was quite a few years since I have driven last time, so of course it takes a little while to get used to it. But the main driving, braking, turning and normal things doesn't take many laps.

"Of course, to start learning about the car and the team and tyres and everything, that will take time," he said.

The season starts in Australia on March 18.

For this article please go to the Otago Daily Times or click here

Young gun Michael Lyons won all four MSC F5000 Tasman Cup revival series races at the New Zealand festival of motor racing at the Hampton Downs circuit south of Auckland over the weekend but Steve Ross added the icing on the cake with a new lap record.

Lyons showed an inkling of what he could do at the two festival of motor racing meetings last year, and went one better this year by claiming pole position in the qualifying session on Friday then leading all four races from start to finish.

"The weekend has gone pretty well, hasn't it?" the 20-year-old Brit said. "Last year we weren't quite as well prepared and it was all a bit last minute. Also, I hadn't really driven the car much that year.

"This year we did most of the British championship, which we won, so we were better prepared with the car so it's great to be able to come out here and be able to do so well."

After winning both races ion Saturday, Lyons led home a fired up Ken Smith, Clark Proctor and series point leader Ross in the rain-delayed third race just after lunch time and 15-lap feature final later in the afternoon.

While the third race was very much a non-event because of the intervention for four of the eight laps of the safety car, the 15-lap feature saw a cracking early pace, with Ross breaking the outright track lap record Lyons had set during on Saturday.

Heading into the meeting, the outright record for the 2.8 km circuit belonged to Smith, with a best time of 1.01.210. Lyons lowered that to 1.00.813 on the first race on Saturday but Ross went even quicker in the final on Sunday, trimming it to an 1.00.497 on just the second lap of the race.

When he found out the Dunedin man was literally lost for words before being quick to share the credit.

"I've held a few class lap records but never an outright track one," he said."All credit to the Motorsport Solutions team who prepare and run the car, they've done a brilliant job this weekend. The car was flying, absolutely flying."
 

For this article and more go to NZ Herald or click here

The icing on the cake for racing fans at the Festival of Motor Racing this weekend will be the third round of the MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series - these bellowing V8 behemoths still cause a stir when they line up on the grid and, when the red lights go out, the ground trembles as they launch towards the first corner.

The F5000 series in New Zealand is the strongest in the world by some margin and cars and drivers have once again arrived from the Americas, Britain, Europe and Australia.

It's not just the BMW and F5000 classes that will be big drawcards. In the past two years, around 150 drivers and classic racing cars from other countries have rocked up to Hampton Downs to race and be part of the event.

Canadian driver Jay Esterer epitomises many of the combatants in the F5000 class in his keenness to race at every chance.

The car Esterer started this series with was one of three badly damaged in a start-line crash at the second round at Manfeild in November 2011. And, like arch-rival and defending series champion Ken Smith, the damage was such that the Canadian has had to revert to another car for the rest of the season.

The 48-year-old won the Lady Wigram Trophy race in Christchurch and is sitting fifth in the 2011/12 series points. Esterer reckons he won't know how competitive he can be until the car he is air-freighting down from Canada for the remaining rounds turns a wheel.

The replacement is another McRae GM1, one that he has owned for just over a year, though one he had not intended on pressing into service quite so soon.

"It's number 10, an ex-Quicksilver Racing team car raced by ... Rodney Green in 1975, then stored in his garage until 2006 when it was sold to Paul Hoey, then James Stengel who I bought it off," said Esterer.

Though Stengel raced the car in the United States in 2008, Esterer has only had time to strip and reassemble it, then break it down again to fit into the two air-freight boxes he used to transport his damaged model back to Canada late last year.

"It'll be completely untested. That's why I don't want to make too many predictions about this weekend. I'll collect the boxes from the air-freight depot when I get to Auckland on Wednesday, then spend Thursday and Friday putting it back together at the track. After that we'll just have to see."

Despite a couple of last-minute withdrawals (including local drivers Calven Bonney and Poul Christie), there will be 27 cars on the grid and as many as 30 at the second festival meeting the weekend after.

American Eric Haga will arrive to race in New Zealand for the first time and, like Kiwi veteran racer Kenny Smith, is one of the F5000 category's originals, having raced Formula 5000 single-seaters in the US first time around in the early 1970s.

Action started yesterday with practice and qualifying, with racing across nine different classic and historic categories scheduled for today and tomorrow. Racing begins at 9.00am both days.

By Eric Thompson

For this article by the NZ Herald and more click here

Young British driver Michael Lyons (Lola T400) has made a winning return to New Zealand's MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series, dominating the first day of competition at the third round at Hampton Downs today.

In front of a large crowd gathered for the first of two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating BMW Motorsport meetings at the 2.8 km circuit south of Auckland the 20-year-old second-generation racer from just outside London topped the time sheets in qualifying on Friday afternoon and won both today's eight lap MSC series races, the first - in the morning - from series points leader Steve Ross (McRae GM1), defending series champion Ken Smith (Lola T430) and high-profile former NZV8 and now Targa driver Clark Proctor (March 73A), and the second from Smith, regular UK visitor Mark Dwyer (Lola T400) and Rotorua driver Brett Willis (Lola T300).

Missing, unfortunately, from the front-running pack was the driver who won all three races at the second New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing meeting last year, Canadian Jay Esterer (McRae GM1).

After a heavy startline accident at the second round of this season's MSC F5000 series at Manfeild late last year the Canadian had to strip, rebuild and air freight out his second McRae GM1 to get it here in time for this weekend's meeting but a fuel leak in practice then full-on engine fire in qualifying put paid to his efforts to re-join the fray before they had even started.

Having also damaged his own Lola T332 in the startline accident at Manfeild, three-time series champion Ken Smith was also forced to revert to another car, in this case the familiar Lola T430 he has used with such effect for the past four seasons.

Nothing he could do could get him close to Lyons, however, the young British driver - whose father Frank and mother Judy also compete in the MSC F5000 series - showing the benefit of a full season in last year's British GT Championship.

"I think everybody has moved up, " he said of the MSC F5000 series. "The level is really high this year. Three of us have already broken the lap record so far and it certainly does seem to be a big step up from last year. Kenny was quick first thing this morning but we managed to sort him out."

That said, fastest starter in both races was Dunedin's Steve Ross. He followed Lyons home in the first race but spun out of the lead of the second in the first corner.

Clark Proctor also showed quick reflexes off the start in both races, shadowing Ross through the first corner then passing him under braking for the second corner in the first race, before slowly slipping back down through the field to cross the line in fourth place when he lost third gear.

He tried the outside line again at the start of the second race only to clash with Ross as Ross and Lyons disputed the inside line. Fellow front row starter Ross got the jump on pole man Lyons off the rolling start but Lyons claimed the inside line from Ross with Proctor taking the long - and potentially quicker - way round the outside.

Unfortunately three into two didn't go with Ross spinning to a halt and Proctor three-wheeling his way back to the pits with a broken rear upright.

Behind the front-runners Roger Williams, Aaron Burson (McRae GM1), Brett Willis, Mark Dwyer, Frank Lyons (Gurney Eagle) and Michael Whatley (Lola T300) completed the top ten in the first race. A fired up Whatley made the most of the first lap contretemps in front of him in the second, however, to get as high as fifth.

Initially Michael Lyons lead Smith and Mark Dwyer and that's how the order was when the results came out, but on the track Steve Ross rejoined the race between Smith and Dwyer and circulated in third place (albeit a lap down) until the chequered flag came out.

Brett Willis then made his move, catching and passing Whatley before eking out a useful gap with Frank Lyons, John MacKinlay (March 73A) and Aaron Burson in line astern behind Whatley.

Burson then passed MacKinlay to claim seventh place with MacKinlay eighth, category stalwart Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400) ninth and former kart and Suzuki Swift Cup star Alan Dunkley doing wonders in one of the oldest cars in the field, a Class A high-wing Lola T140, in 10th.

Dunkley's debut series performance was the talk of the category, the 22-year-old, who was a karting contemporary of the likes of NZ GP winner Earl Bamber, and one of the leading lights in the Suzuki Swift Cup two years ago, putting in two smooth, fast, measured drives which showed just how quick even one of the original category cars can lap a circuit in the right hands.

"These cars certainly demand a lot more respect than say a Suzuki (Swift) or Formula First," said the young Aucklander - who spends his weekdays working as a race engineer with his father Paul Dunkley. "You can't just biff them into a corner and see what happens. They're not like other cars I've raced, either, where you're always either on the throttle or the brakes. With the Lola you have to wait and feather the throttle to see when you can get back on it."

Also having his first drive in the MSC F5000 series in a high-wing Lola was American category original Eric Haga, in the 69-year-old Seattle, Washington visitor's case, the very same Lola T190 he drove first time round in 1970.

Haga was not quite running at young gun Dunkley's pace but he was having a ball all the same.

"This is a wonderful track and the only thing better than the track are the people involved here," he said. "The competition is fierce, but it is also friendly and the drivers are very, very courteous. I had a wonderful race this afternoon (with Australian Lola T140 driver John Bryant). We both have the same attitude about it, we are here for fun and to preserve the cars and we respect each other in the turns and we don't put each other at risk.

The second race also saw the return of British visitor Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) and Aucklander Stu Lush (McRae), both men starting from the rear of the grid after new batteries failed them in the first race. Thornton ended up getting the best run through the field crossing the finish line in 11th place with Lush 12th.

MSC F5000 Tasman Cup revival Series competition continues at the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating BMW Motorsport meeting tomorrow with two more races, a third 8-lapper in the morning a feature 15 lap final in the afternoon.

The MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series is organised and run with the support of sponsors MSC, NZ Express Transport, Bonney's Specialized Bulk Transport, Mobil Lubricants, Pacifica, Smith & Davies, Avon Tyres and Exide.

For more information about the two NZ Festival of Motor Racing - celebrating BMW Motorsport meetings go to www.nzfmr.co.nz.

For this article and more go to voxy news or click here

BMW is the headline act at the third New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing, on today, tomorrow and next weekend at the Hampton Downs track.

The first and second festivals were dedicated to two of New Zealand's three famous Formula One drivers - Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon. Next year's will salute Denny Hulme.

The event this year celebrates the 40th anniversary of BMW Motorsport - now known as BMW M - a nameplate synonymous with motorsport in New Zealand.

"It's particularly apt that BMW is the first automobile marque to be celebrated after the two legendary racing drivers of the previous festivals," said BMW New Zealand managing director Mark Gilbert.

"BMW has had a presence in New Zealand motorsport dating back more than 40 years.

"Cars such as the 2002 Ti and M635CSi have established themselves as both winners and driver favourites, and are still raced at tracks around the country today.

The M3 boasts a race-proven heritage, having won a number of New Zealand championships as well as five Wellington 500 street races during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Schnitzer BMW M3s dominated the event, claiming four of five titles won by BMW between 1988 and 1992. During the 1990s, BMW Motorsport NZ, a partnership between BMW NZ and International Motorsport (Lyall Williamson), won seven straight titles in the New Zealand Touring Car Championship.

Craig Baird and Brett Riley won most of the titles in the earlier years, but the 1999 and 2000 titles were won in a BMW 325i (E36) driven by the late Jason Richards. BMW has brought from its heritage division in Germany two of its celebrated racing models - the M1ProCar and the Group A M3. Both cars will appear on the track during the event. Also on show will be the original "Batmobile", the BMW 3.0CSL that Amon and German driver Hans-Joachim Stuck drove to win the 1973 European Touring Car Championship.

For this article and more by the NZ Herald click here 

The third incarnation of the annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs this weekend is paying homage to a different sort of racing legend - a manufacturer.

BMW's rich history in saloon car racing is being acknowledged and fans will be pleased to know racing hero Chris Amon has more than just a tenuous link to one of the cars.

He and fellow tin-top legend Hans-Joachim Stuck raced the BMW 3.0CSL on display over the weekend to victory in the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

Amon had spent his racing career until then in single-seater Formula or CanAm cars, so driving a saloon car with a roof on a racetrack was a bit of an adventure for him.

"It was the only real touring car racing I ever did," Amon said. "It took me a race or two to get used to it [but] I really enjoyed it."

Although the car was built as a road-going model, the CSL Amon and Stuck won the six-hour endurance race in - affectionately known as the Batmobile - wasn't stock. "They would have had to weigh about 1000kg and looked a bit chunky but were a seriously quick piece of gear really."

The car has been brought out by BMW from its Munich motorsport museum for the launch of the new BMW 1M series. The CSL will be joined by other historic BMWs at the festival over the next two weekends.

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more by NZ Herald click here

Photo credit - Alastair Sloane

The third incarnation of the annual New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs this weekend is not honouring a Kiwi racing legend as it has done in the past.

This year it's paying homage to a different sort of racing legend - a manufacturer.

BMW's rich history in saloon car racing is being acknowledged at Hampton this time, and fans will be pleased to know a real life racing hero, Chris Amon, has more than just a tenuous link to one of the cars.

In fact, he and fellow tin top legend Hans-Joachim Stuck raced the BMW 3.0CSL on display over the weekend to victory in the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

Amon had spent his entire racing career until then in single-seater Formula or CanAm cars, so driving a saloon car with a roof over his head in anger on a race track was a bit of an adventure for him.

"It was the only real touring car racing I ever did," Amon said. "When I was approached about it, I was a bit reluctant having never driven a touring car before.

"I've got to say it look me a race or two to get used to it, because compared to a Formula One or sports racing car they roll a lot and you're very tempted to over drive them because you feel you're not going fast enough.

Once I got used to it I really enjoyed it."

Although the car was originally built as a road-going model for homologation purposes, the CSL Amon and Stuck won the six-hour endurance race in wasn't stock.

Affectionately known as the Batmobile, it had all the normal gumpf associated with a passenger car ripped out and aluminium boot, bonnet, doors and Perspex windows fitted.

Now much lighter, an aero package fitted, and a pretty handy straight-six engine developing about 250kW, the car could travel up to 280km/h. Not too shabby in the 1970s for a 3.6-litre in-line engine.

"They would have had to weight about 1000kg and looked a bit chunky but were a seriously quick piece of gear really," Amon said. "They had a totally different feel to a Formula One car. They had a lot of body movement but in a straight line, especially at Le Mans in the 24-hour [race], I'd be trundling down the straight at 280km/h. That's seriously quick."

The Kiwi suggests he and Stuck could have won a lot more races in the car had it held together longer.

"Stuck and I had a lot of races and I have to admit that we didn't finish quite a few for one reason or another. But we did win the six-hour at the Nurburgring against the Cologne Capris and they were quick. When everything was going right, we had the legs on those," said Amon.

The former works Ferrari driver still holds the Formula One lap record at Spa, as they no longer raced F1 cars on the old circuit (14.5km) after 1970.

He set a blistering 3:27.4 lap in a March 701B-Ford at an average speed of 245km/h and said the BMW wasn't far off that pace. That is some achievement considering it was a tin top with the aerodynamics of a brick compared to a Formula One car.

"In the middle of the night with the BMW in the 24-hour race, I think I lapped Spa in about 3:48 or 49secs," Amon explained. "So it was about 20-odd seconds slower than a Formula One car."

Amon is at pains to reiterate that, although the car is not a runner, it is the same car he and Stuck raced in 1973. It won't race around Hampton Downs because of the risks if it either blows up or has an altercation with a wall.

"Spares and bits are pretty thin on the ground and I guess it's the only one they have at the museum and they don't want it pounding around a circuit," Amon said. "It was great to sit in it again and it brought back some fond memories."

The car has been brought out by BMW from its motorsport museum in Munich to New Zealand for the launch of the new BMW 1M series and is complete with its original No 12 and factory livery.

The festival will be held over the next two weekends and the CSL will be joined by other historic BMW cars like the ex-Peter Brock/Jim Richards BMW Mobil M3, the ex-Denny Hulme B&H BMW M3, JPS BMW 635CSi and JPS BMW M3. There will also be a German Touring Car (DTM) on display.

For this article and more head to NZ Herald or click here

January Newsletter

 

NZFMR January Newsletter

Booth ready to tame unique Can-Am monster Two-time New Zealand V8 Champion Andy Booth will take a step back in time to make his Hampton Downs V8 race debut when he drives one of the country’s most important historic racing cars. Booth, who will compete in the
inaugural V8 SuperTourer series that kicks off at the Hampton Downs track in February, will race the unique McLaren M1A/B Can Am car during the second race weekend of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing on January 27/28/29. The first weekend blasts off this Friday.
The car itself – owned by historic racing enthusiast Paul Halford - represents a unique slice of Kiwi motorsport history. It was originally a customer car built for the American owner as an M1A. When the owner saw Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon go quicker in their M1B specification cars he asked Bruce to send him a M1B body so as he could fit it to his car and have the latest specification. When his request was declined, he crafted his own – and the body on the car today is the very same
handmade M1B aluminium copy that was built for the car and raced all those years ago.
Booth, who has never raced the car or any other Can Am, is a huge fan of the era and is relishing the prospect of taming the 500 horsepower monster. “I consider it a real honour to be invited to drive the M1A/B and very much see my role as one of demonstrating the car at pace to an audience of enthusiasts. It’s not about seeing just how fast it can go or putting anything at risk so I’ll be making sure there’s always enough real estate around me. At the same time though we’re not out there for a
Sunday drive and people want to see and hear these things in anger. It’s noise alone is spine tingling.”
 

Can- Am was one of the pre-eminent series of the sixties and seventies in Canada and America (hence the Can-Am abbreviation) and the cars were noted at certain circuits to be considerably faster than Formula One cars of the same period. McLaren machines, designed and built in UK by Kiwi
Bruce McLaren, were at the forefront of technical development and the championships for many years. They remain a huge draw card for generations of fans.

Amon back in unique Ferrari New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing regular and motor racing legend Chris Amon will do some demonstration laps at this year's event on Saturday 21st January. And his chosen steed will be one of the stars of the festival - A Ferrari 250GTE/O.
It may not be a numbered GTO, but the car is nevertheless all Ferrari, having been built originally as a GTE but converted by the factory to a GTO in every regard.
It is a stunning addition to the festival line up. Amon's time with Ferrari as a works driver included races in both single seater and sports racing cars from 1967 through to 1969 during which time he was an integral part of the factory's World Sportscar Championship effort.
Sensational driver line up for BMW demonstration runs The driver line up to demonstrate the unique BMW's that are on loan from the factory in Germany for the two weekends of the 2012 New Zealand
Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW in Motorsport is nothing short of sensational.
The two cars on loan from the factory for demo runs are a Le Mans specification M1 Procar - making its New Zealand debut - and a German Touring Car Championship, or DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) specification M3 from 1987. This was the ultimate version of the iconic car.
Drivers over the first weekend will be Mike Eady, Jim Richards and Brett Riley (M1 Procar) and Richards, Riley and Andy Booth for the DTM M3.
Over the second weekend drivers for the M1 and M3 will be Andy Booth, Greg Murphy, John McIntyre and BMW series regular Kevin Underwood.

BMW drivers attend en masse
- Confirmed former BMW Motorsport drivers coming at some time to the Festival include Chris Amon; those who drove BMW 2002s from the 1970s such as Rodger Anderson, Steve Millen, Paul Adams and Ken Adamson a group from the 1980s that comprises Jim Richards (1st weekend only), Neville
Crichton, Kent Baigent, Wayne Wilkinson, Graeme Crosby and John Morton - who hopes to demo the very car he drove in the Wellington 500 in 2005. Also in attendance will be Phil Myhre now from Brunei, Tony Lawrence, Jim Keogh and John English from Australia.
Representing the later 1980s and 1990s will be Robbie Francevic, Paul Radisich, Ludwig Finaeur from Australia, Greg Murphy, Keith Sharp, Rod Millen, Brett Riley, Dennis
Chapman. Former BMW Motorsport drivers of the era Dennis Chapman will be racing his own BMW Supertourer at the Festival and 1986 Production Saloon Champion Graeme Cameron who will be competing in a historic Formula Ford.

Event merchandise! Want some very snazzy motorsport clothing and a bit of memorabilia from this historic event? Then get in quick and order a 2012 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing Celebrating
BMW Motorsport shirt. Ladies or gents polo or long sleeved cotton shirt styles are available – see
imagegroup.wip.co.nz/nzfmr

For the full newsletter and more information go to www.nzfmr.co.nz

Booth ready to tame unique Can Am monster

Two-time New Zealand V8 Champion Andy Booth will take a step back in time to make his Hampton Downs V8 race debut when he drives one of the country's most important historic racing cars.

Booth, who will compete in the inaugural V8 SuperTourer series that kicks off at the Waikato track in February, will race the unique McLaren M1A/B Can Am car during the second race weekend of the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing on January 27/28/29.

The car itself - owned by historic racing enthusiast Paul Halford - represents a unique slice of Kiwi motorsport history. It was originally a customer car built for the American owner as an M1A. When the owner saw Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon go quicker in their M1B specification cars he asked Bruce to send him a M1B body so as he could fit it to his car and have the latest specification. When his request was declined, he crafted his own - and the body on the car today is the very same handmade M1B aluminium copy that was built for the car and raced all those years ago.

Booth, who has never raced the car or any other Can-Am, is a huge fan of the era and is relishing the prospect of taming the 500 horsepower monster.

"I consider it a real honour to be invited to drive the M1A/B and very much see my role as one of demonstrating the car at pace to an audience of enthusiasts. It's not about seeing just how fast it can go or putting anything at risk so I'll be making sure there's always enough real estate around me. At the same time though we're not out there for a Sunday drive and people want to see and hear these things in anger. Its noise alone is spine tingling."

Can-Am was one of the pre-eminent series of the sixties and seventies in Canada and America (hence the Can-Am abbreviation) and the cars were noted at certain circuits to be considerably faster than Formula One cars of the same period. McLaren machines, designed and built in UK by Kiwi Bruce McLaren, were at the forefront of technical development and the championships for many years. They remain a huge drawcard for generations of fans.

"Reading about the Can-Am era as a kid always fascinated me," added Booth. "The idea of completely open rules and increasingly huge horsepower was something that I thought was just awesome. Obviously the legendary domination of the McLarens was also a major fact of my interest.

"You can't hide the overwhelming sense of history when driving a car like this but also just how much things have changed! Driving the M1A/B is a bit like sitting in half a 44 gallon drum with a 500+ horsepower V8 strapped to the back so you do feel more than a little vulnerable. But for sheer thrill power, there's nothing like a Can-Am."

The festival runs over two weekends, January 20/21/22 and 27/28/29 and has attracted more than 300 entries.

For this article and more from the NZ Herald click here

When BMW built the X6 many people said it had lost the plot by creating a niche for which there'd be no buyer. Who wants an SUV that won't go off-road, a wagon without a cavernous boot, or a high-riding sports coupe that weighs over two tonnes?

And who would want this high-performance X6M version? Mash the go pedal to the floor and you briefly take off as 680Nm slams to the tarmac and catapults you into next week, fighting whiplash, the wheel and a lightning attack of antisocial hoonery. This car isn't made for speed limits.

Which is why I'll be at Hampton Downs for the NZ Festival of Motor Racing Celebrating BMW Motorsport from January 20-22 and 27-29.

There will be an Historic Touring Car Challenge, a class for the 1980s E30 and one that outlines the history of BMW sedan racing in this country. Drivers like Jim Richards and former F1 ace Chris Amon will be on the track. And this X6M will keep them honest - it's the safety car, and it'll howl round along with the focussed racers. It can do so because it fields a 4.4-litre V8 motor with twin turbos nestled between the two cylinder rows. It boasts 408kW and the ability to hit 100kph from rest in 4.7 seconds. That's quicker than a manual M3 coupe, courtesy of a torque peak which surfs between 1500 and 5650rpm and hands over to peak power until 6000; this mighty engine delivers its all across a 4500rpm range via an impressive six-speed auto transmission.

Trouble is, though it feels unstoppable it rarely seems that fast. I'd like a bit more drama to the soundtrack from the cabin - it's a head-turner if passersby are any judge - and a touch less steering resistance at slower speeds.

Once the novelty wore off I'd also have liked a more rewarding experience on real-world roads. Thanks to sticky wide tyres, four-wheel drive and dynamic performance control that distributes power between the rear wheels to help you accelerate out of bends, you have to go truly feral to reach this car's sweet spot.

But the X6M isn't about out-racing the racers. It's about effortless driving.

Trouble is, there are more practical luxury runabouts and nimbler sports cars for the $248,000 price ($253,660 as tested). The X6M doesn't carry enough luggage to fulfil the former task. It's too OTT for the latter. And no matter how you drive it, you'll offend any eco-warrior who crosses your path.

You could try telling them this car's 16.3l/100km thirst (BMW claims 13.9) is doing them a favour. The more petrol used, the more urgent a viable alternative to fossil fuels and the earlier that low-emissions fuel-frugal future will arrive.

If the suggestion meets aggression, drive off - their eco-electro-solar-hybrid commuter won't keep up.

For this article and more fomr the NZ Herald click here

One of the stars of the event on the driving side will be former BMW ace - and the oldest ever winner at Bathurst - the legendary Jim Richards. Jim will be in attendance at the festival over the first weekend of the event and will be reunited with one of the classic black and gold JPS branded 635 CSi cars.

And Jim isn't coming just to do a few demonstration laps, he will be racing the car. In what will be a throwback to the halycon days of touring car racing in new Zealand and indeed the racing world, Richards' racer will be joined by no less than two other genuine ex-works JPS CSis including the Adrian Brady owned car pictured. The ex-Crichton/Wilkinson car now owned by Alan Drinkrow is for demo only, however.

The ex-Denny Hulme Benson and Hedges M3, which has featured heavily in the pre event promotion, is also set to race as are a number of very signiciant other BMW cars. Not only that, but festival chairman Jim Barclay has been able to assemble a presence at the event by 22 of the former 30 BMW Motorsport drivers who drove the brand in New Zealand and Australia.

In addition to having Jim Richards racing at the festival, other BMW drivers of the 70s, 80s and 90s who will be there at various times include Paul Radisich, Craig Baird, Neville Crichton, Wayne Wilkinson, Ed Lamont, Ken Baigent, Neil Lowe, Graeme Crosby, Tony Lawrence, Phil
Mhyre, John Sax, Keith Sharp, Bernie Gillon, Steve Millen, Rodger Anderson, Paul Adams, Chris Amon – and the list goes on…

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BUY TICKETS GO TO WWW.NZFMR.CO.NZ

During the 1960s and early 1970s, Kiwi motorsport fans were lucky enough to watch some of the best open-wheel drivers in the world battle it out on New Zealand and Australia tracks during the Tasman Series.

Many of the then current Formula One drivers, and those on the cusp of becoming one, would travel Downunder in the European racing off season to contest four races in New Zealand and four in Australia.

Some of the names who competed and adorned the various trophies up for grabs included some of New Zealand's greatest drivers; Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon and Graham McRae.

The series also attracted overseas international stars such as Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt, Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Stewart.

While not directly comparable, the Toyota Racing Series, also in January and February, has attracted a bumper crop of overseas talent.

This year organiser Barry Thomlinson has enticed around 15 international drivers to contest the series, which is scheduled for five back-to-back rounds starting in Invercargill at Teretonga Park, from January 12-15.

While fans will not be turning up to watch established F1, IndyCar or GP2 drivers, they will get to see the next generation of racing royalty strut their stuff in New Zealand.

Former works Ferrari driver and the 1969 Tasman Series winner to boot, Chris Amon is very happy to see the TRS series attracting so much overseas talent to out shores.

"I'm really exited about this. I think to have such a huge international field is amazing," said Amon.

"Obviously some of them are not well known but it's tremendous and the series [TRS] goes from strength to strength.

"I can't remember there ever being so many international drivers here in New Zealand at any one time for a series. Normally it was six, eight, nine or 10.

"There was one year, however, in 1961 I think, there were 14 who came and raced."

Part of the lure for the drivers competing in the New Zealand Grand Prix, from February 9-12, is that it is one of only two GPs held outside Formula One. It is also the first Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) 2012 international calendar event.

An additional attraction for the Kiwi drivers in the field is to compete against overseas pilots and use them as a benchmark for where their respective skill levels might lie.

Amon is one who still thinks being able to race nose to nose with contemporaries from other countries can only be a good thing.

"When I was racing against the big names from Europe in New Zealand it put me in good stead for when I went over there. It very much gives you something to benchmark yourself against.

"An exciting thing over the past year or so is that a number of young New Zealand drivers have been able to prove themselves against some of the good young European drivers.

"If you can do that you can go to Europe and know you're sort of going to be up there," said Amon.

"The whole profile of the series is growing and for the young Ferrari guy [Raffaele Marciello] from the elite Ferrari Driver Academy to be sent out here is great as I think he's regarded as their number two driver. I'm really excited about it all," said Amon.

Twelve countries will be represented over the five weeks of competition and three-time champion team Giles Motorsport is back to defend their 2011 trophy.

ETEC Motorsport, M2 Competition and Victory Motor Racing teams all have drivers who are expected to challenge for the championship and with grids of 20 cars, racing is sure to be fast and furious.

TRS Calendar

* Round 1: January 12-15, Teretonga Park, Invercargill - Spirit of a Nation Cup.
* Round 2: January 19-22, Timaru Raceway, Timaru - Timaru Herald Trophy.
* Round 3: January 26-29, Taupo Motorsport Park - Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy.
* Round 4: February 2-5, Hampton Downs, Auckland - New Zealand Motor Cup.
* Round 5: February 9-12, Manfeild, Feilding - New Zealand Grand Prix, Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup.
 

For this article and more go to the NZ Herald or click here

Kiwi Formula 1 legend Chris Amon believes New Zealand is set for a "brilliant" summer season of International single seater motor racing with the largest, and youngest field of drivers ever.

"The 2012 Toyota Racing Series has attracted a record field which is great news for New Zealand motorsport. This rivals the very best years of the old Tasman series," enthused Amon.

Racing in New Zealand's annual single seater championship, the Toyota Racing Series, the first FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) 2012 International Calendar event of the New Year starts at Teretonga in Invercargill on January 14-15 and continues through to the New Zealand Grand Prix finale at Manfeild on February 11-12.

Drivers will cover in excess of 2,500 kms of testing and racing over five consecutive events from the deep South to the North of New Zealand.

Drivers are competing to win the coveted Chris Amon Trophy, awarded to the overall winner of the 15-race season. The Amon Trophy has only ever been won by a Kiwi driver since the series inception in 2005 but the new more compact format opens up the likelihood of an International name being added to the list of champions.

The latest addition,16-year-old Russian driver Dmitry Suranovich brings the total number of overseas drivers entered to 15 which is a record number for the TRS.

As with several of the other young drivers who are entered, the teenager from Minsk is coming down under to gain valuable experience; racing against an intriguing mix of emerging talent who come from a wide range of series throughout the world.

Suranovich is a karting graduate who has competed in the Italian Formula Abarth series in 2011.

"Some of these youngsters may not be well known now, but I think we havesome very promising up and coming young drivers who we will undoubtly feature in higher level categories of the sport in the years ahead," said Amon.

He recalled previous overseas drivers that had progressed to International fame after competing in New Zealand - notably Keke Rosberg who went on to win a Formula One World Championship and Indycar Champions Danny Sullivan and Bobby Rahal.

Amon raced for Ferrari in Formula 1 between 1967 and 1969, and says he is feeling both nostalgic and delighted that Raffaele Marciello is coming to New Zealand to race in TRS. The 16-year-old Italian's career is currently being managed by the Ferrari Driver Academy.

"For the Toyota Racing management team to get the Ferrari lad down here is brilliant. Imagine what this might lead to in the future..." said Amon.

"All these overseas drivers coming here provides a good incentive for few more Kiwis to become involved in TRS. We need to be looking right now for the next generation of drivers coming through from New Zealand karting."

Chris Amon has been mentoring Auckland-based Jono Lester during his build up to his first full season in TRS, and thinks the 22 year old could be a strong contender, particularly in the early rounds.

"At 22 Jono will be almost the old man of the 2012 series but he has a good head on his shoulders and may benefit from being more consistent than some of the teenagers."

The average age of the 2012 TRS grid is 19, the oldest competitor being 24 year old Italian woman driver Michela Cerruti.

The Teams Trophy also looks like providing intense competition with all of the teams running a combination of New Zealand and international drivers.

Giles Motorsport is back to defend the trophy it has held for the past three seasons but will face stiff competition from all of the other teams; ETEC Motorsport, M2 Competition and Victory Motor Racing teams all have drivers who are expected to challenge for front running positions throughout the series.

Twelve different countries will be represented on the grid in 2012.

For more information go to www.toyotaracing.co.nz

Joining Ken Smith at the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races at the two Hampton Downs meetings will be 36 other drivers, including Canadian Hamish Somerville (Lola T400) and - for the first time - a three-man contingent from the United States.

Somerville is the second Canadian to join the MSC series, Jay Esterer (McRae GM1) having been a regular visitor now for several years. However, bar US-based Australian driver Bruce Leeson who travelled here two years ago to compete in the inaugural New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing - Bruce McLaren meetings, US drivers have been conspicuous by their absence.

That situation has been addressed this year by three members of the group which runs a series for F5000 cars in the United States, Seb Coppola, Harin DeSilva and Eric Haga.

All three run early model (Class A) cars, Coppola a Lola T192, Haga a Lola T190 and DeSilva a Surtees TS-8.

Haga joins Ken Smith in enjoying the rare distinction of having raced F5000 single-seaters first-time round, and as well as that is bringing with him the very same car he drove in 11 races in the US in the 1970 season!

Also travelling from overseas for the two meetings are series regulars Greg Thornton (Chevron B24), Mark Dwyer (Lola T400), Mike Whatley (Surtees TS8 and Lola T300), and Frank (Gurney Eagle FA74-01), Judy (Lola T332) and Michael (Lola T400) Lyons from the UK, plus South Australian John Bryant (Lola T140) and Melbourne-based expat Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) from across the Tasman.

Joining the series for the first time this season, meanwhile, are a number of local drivers including Calven Bonney (Begg 018), Alastair Russell (McRae GM1), Kerry McIntosh (Begg FM2), Peter Sundberg (Lola T332), Warwick Mortimer (Surtees TS5) and Clark Proctor (March 73A-1).

The popular Hampton Downs meetings will also see the return of Aucklander Roger Williams, whose Lola T332 was damaged in the start-line accident at Manfeild, and the series debuts of a newly rebuilt McLaren M10B in the hands of long-time series supporter Poul Christie and a Lola T140 to be driven by former kart and Suzuki Swift Cup driver Alan Dunkley (Lola T140).

Leading the points standings heading into the two rounds is Steve Ross from Dunedin (McRae GM1), followed by Aaron Burson (McRae GM1) from Auckland, Russell Greer (Lola T332) from Blenheim, Sefton Gibb (Lola T332) from Napier, this season's Lady Wigram Trophy winner Jay Esterer (McRae GM1), 2011/12 series newcomers Dave Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) from Christchurch and David Banks (Talon MR1) from Auckland, Brett Willis (Lola T330) from Rotorua, Aaron Burson's father Peter in his McRae GM1, fellow Aucklanders Stu Lush (McRae GM1), John Mackinlay (March 73A-2) and Shayne Windelburn (Lola T400), Feilding young gun Tim Rush (McLaren M22) and Stan Redmond (Lola T332) and David Abbott (Lola T430) from Christchurch.

Jay Esterer's car was another damaged in the start-line shunt at Manfeild but the Canadian has shipped it back to his base in Edmonton for repairs and is flying out his second car (another McRae GM1) for the remaining 2011/12 MSC series rounds here in New Zealand and Australia.

For this article and more go to www.motornews.co.nz

Smith back to lead field at Hampton Downs
 

Racing veteran Ken Smith will head a bumper Tasman Cup Revival Series field at two New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing meetings at Hampton Downs in January.

Smith, who turned 70 this year, broke a bone in his left foot in an accident in November but is already off crutches and will be out of his moonboot just after Christmas.

Smith's Lola T332 was written off in the accident so he will revert to the later model Lola T430 he used to win the past three MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.

In his 54 consecutive seasons of motor racing Smith has had only three what he terms "serious" accidents, and the one at Manfeild was the first in which he broke a bone.

Despite that, he will drive two cars at the two Hampton Downs meetings. "And I'll tell you what," he said this week. "I can't wait. I'm itching to get back behind the wheel."

Joining him in the MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series races will be 36 other drivers, including Canadian Hamish Somerville and, for the first time, a three-man contingent from the United States.

Somerville is the second Canadian to join the MSC series after Jay Esterer, who has been a regular visitor now for several years. However, bar US-based Australian driver Bruce Leeson, American drivers have been conspicuous by their absence.

That situation has been changed this year by three members of a group which runs a series for F5000 cars in the United States - Seb Coppola, Harin DeSilva and Eric Haga.

- APNZ

For this article and more go to the NZ Herald.

Usual rules don't apply to BMW's novel pace car, says David Linklater.

 Expand The X6 M's astonishing dynamic abilities compensate for the fact that it is one of the most controversial machines in M-car history. Photo / SuppliedI'm sure you've always wondered whether a two-tonne-plus off-road vehicle could be a pace car for a motorsport series.

The answer is yes, it can - when the vehicle in question is the BMW X6 M.

It's not for the shy, but Driven spent a week in this liveried monster in the midst of the company's preparations for the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing Celebrating BMW Motorsport, to be held at the Hampton Downs circuit on January 20-22 and 27-29.

That title is quite a mouthful, but jaws will have dropped permanently anyway once the X6 M leads the pack around the track, so it shouldn't be a problem.

It's a genuine M-car, but the X6 M is not the most exciting machine to drive on the road. It's too big, too loud - and, on those fat tyres, not really communicative enough to entertain on Kiwi backroads.

But it is outstanding on the track. I know this not from my X6 M experience, but from a previous drive around Hampton Downs in an X5 M (which is the same thing under the sheet metal).

It's the car that was outstanding on the track, mind, not me.

The combination of a 408kW/680Nm turbocharged V8, rock-solid cornering stance on smooth surfaces and a surreal amount of grip makes the biggest-ever M-car a magic machine on a circuit. Keeping the pace at Hampton Downs should be no problem.

Those astonishing dynamic abilities do compensate for the fact that the X6 and X5 models are the most controversial machines in M-car history.

Whoever thought the M division would make an off-roader (albeit one that can't really go off-road), or a car with a conventional automatic gearbox, or one with four-wheel drive?

The fact that the company reportedly chose to invest its development dollars in this rather than a proper lightweight CSL version of the current M3 made it even more of a touchy subject among the M-car faithful. Maybe some ill-feeling will linger at the festival?

You can't argue with the facts, though: 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds will wipe that derisive smirk off your face straight away.

Even though this massive wagon struggles with rapid changes of direction, given a smooth cornering line the super-intelligent electronic systems can defy the laws of physics.

There's the clever xDrive four-wheel-drive system, which works proactively rather than reactively, Dynamic Performance Control, which distributes power side-to-side, and even an M Dynamic Mode that allows you to go a little bit wild when road space and the law allow.

What'll be behind this liveried lunacy at Hampton Downs?

The programme is very full indeed, but BMW-flavoured classes will include a Group A and Historic Touring Car Challenge, a segment dedicated to

the iconic E30 of the 1980s, and an open class spanning the history of BMW saloon-car racers in New Zealand.

Many of the marque's most famous local drivers will be on hand, including Chris Amon and Jim Richards (as featured in Driven on December 14).

Rare cars on loan from the BMW Museum include the CSL Batmobile raced by Amon and Hans Stuck, as well as an M1 Procar raced by Prince Leopold von Bayern in the 1970s.

The Prince will demonstrate the car during the second weekend of the festival.

The 2012 event will be the third festival hosted by Hampton Downs and the first to pay tribute to a brand. The first two celebrated two of New Zealand's greatest racing drivers: Bruce McLaren (2010) and Amon (2011).

By David Linklater

For this NZ Herald article and more click here

Radisich to return

Veteran kiwi racing car driver Paul Radisich will be back on the grid in New Zealand for the first time since 2008 when he races a classic Ford Mustang at the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs in January.

Radisich, a two-time touring car World Cup champion now living in New Zealand for the first time in 25 years, has returned to become chief executive of the new V8 SuperTourer series.

A serious crash at Bathurst in 2008 brought his international racing career to a halt and he has not raced on a regular basis since, but will climb behind the wheel in the last two weekends in January.

He jumped at the chance to drive the famous Fleetwood Mustang when owner and friend Neil Tolich put the idea to him.

"I have never competed or driven at Hampton Downs so I am looking forward to that experience," he said. "All competitors have raved about the circuit so here is my chance to judge it for myself.

"I've had experience with the [Ford] Galaxie in the UK and also a V8 Cyclone and a Lotus Cortina which Roger Wills and I competed with in Europe together, so you could say I have enough experience with the old cars on the grooved tyres."

Radisich will race the car over both weekends of the event but isn't aiming to break any V8 lap records.

"It's going to be a lot of fun and they'll be fantastic back-to-back weekends of great motorsport. The key to me going fast in the Mustang will be seeing how far you can hang the car out in a power slide without losing it. That is the difference between modern and historic racing. I can enjoy some big power slides in the Mustang and it should help the times."

For this NZ Herald and more click here
 

For next year's New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs the organisers will put the spotlight on German manufacturer BMW.

The event, held over two weekends (January 20-22 and January 27-29), will feature some amazing cars from BMW's racing history, many of which have raced in New Zealand.

Legendary BMW racers Jim Richards and Prince Leopold von Bayern of Bavaria are already confirmed and more big names are set to join the action.

A feature class will be the Group A and Invited Touring Car Challenge where classic BMW 635CSi and BMW M3s of the 1980s will once again battle other touring cars such as the Ford Sierra Cosworth, Jaguar XJS, Holden Commodore, Rover SD1, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Corona cars.

Driven caught up with the Kiwi racing icon and V8 Supercars and Australian Motorsport Hall of Famer Richards, as he looks forward to racing back in New Zealand.

Driven: What made you decide to come back to New Zealand to have a play?

Richards: I actually own one of the BMWs I raced back in the 1980s and I was hoping to have it going to bring it over for the festival.

Unfortunately it won't be going in time, though. It's a 1987 E30 M3 that I won the 1987 Australian championship in.

D: So what will you be racing instead?

R: Festival organiser Jim Barclay has arranged for me to race a 635 (Frank Gardner-built JPS BMW Group A 635CS) that I used to race in Australia, which belongs to Peter Sturgeon and he's really keen to bring it up from Christchurch and race it at Hampton Downs.

D: How much seat time did you have in that car?

R: I used it in the 1985 Australian Touring car championship, which I won that year. I didn't use it totally but I drove that car in one of the weekends.

D: What was it like to race in?

R: Things have changed a lot over the years and cars have got better but at the time I remember it being absolutely brilliant. It was one of the best cars I've ever driven. It just did everything so well and we had just gone to the Group A regulations and BMW had a ready-made car for that series, whereas a lot of the other guys had to homologate or build Holdens or old Mustangs, Alfas and others we had over there. It was a brilliant car to have at the time.

D: What did BMW originally build the car for?

R: The car was built as a sports car back in the early 1980s and it continued on as the 635 that they raced and that was the premium BMW that Germany raced in Europe at the time. It won many, many championships throughout the world.

It won long-distance races like the Spa 24 Hour. It did everything; it was a brilliant car just right for the new regulations. I had driven for BMW since 1983 and so in 1985 it was bang - we had a ready-made car.

D: When was the last time you drove a 635?

R: I last drove the same car at the rebirth of the Dunedin street race about five years ago. I also was able to drive another 635 at the Gold Coast last year as well in a demonstration of the old Group A cars. It still felt great and went well.

D: How does it compare with the Ford you're racing in the Touring Car Masters series this year?

R: They're totally different, of course. The one I'm driving now (a 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint) has nearly twice the horsepower but the BMW is a much better handling car. However, my Ford will lap faster as it's got a lot more horsepower and as good brakes and suspension as the BMW.

D: Have you been around Hampton Downs?

R: No. I love the Kiwi circuits, though, and love coming back and being able to have a drive.

I plan to come over more often next year and bring one of my cars with me and try to do a few races over there.

If there was a series any of my cars were eligible for I'd be over and racing.

For more information and ticketing for the January event go to www.nzfmr.co.nz.

By Eric Thompson
 

For this article by the NZ Herlad and more click here

Hampton Downs Will Provide V8 Supercars With Long-Term Venue

Robbie Bugden took victory in both F1 Superbike races on his Triple R Race Team Suzuki GSXR1000 at Hampton Downs on Saturday.

The slow starting Australian didn't have it all his own way however as defending Suzuki Tri-Series champion Andrew Stroud (Hamilton), Craig Shirriffs (Fielding) and Nick Cole (Hamilton) pushed him all the way in the opening leg.

Stroud, Bugden and Shirriffs battled hard at the front and Pole sitter Nick Cole (Kawasaki ZX-10R) was never out of the fray. Bugden snatched the lead at half race distance and was awarded the win ahead of fellow Suzuki GSXR1000 riders Shirriffs, Stroud and Red Devil Racings Cole in a shortened race.

In race two Bugden lead the field over the hill on lap one and held his position at record pace until the chequered flag. Stroud looked threatening on his David Reid Homes' Suzuki Superbike until fading towards race end to finish second. Slightly behind the leaders Cole and Shirriffs had their own scrap for third until Cole slipped down the order, and Shirriffs crashed his Shirriffs Installation Suzuki with two laps remaining.

Last year's upset winner Sloan Frost ran off track in the opening heat with traction control problems on his BMW, then came back from last to cross the line seventh. In heat two Frost, now living in Wellington, had another slow start before finding form to slice through the field and snatch third from Suzuki rider Ray Clee.

A resurgent Clee battled for fourth most of the race with James Smith while Superbike rookie Scott Moir, who crashed in race one, brought his Honda CBR1000RR home in sixth, ahead of Cole.

Bugden said after the racing, "I had a good weekend as I hadn't ridden the bike until lunchtime yesterday so we're still developing it. We lacked a bit of consistency in the first race so we made some changes and bashed out some good laps in the second race. We're back fitter, stronger and more hungry so fired a warning shot today and our focus is on winning the nationals."

With Bugden not riding at Manfield on Saturday for round two, Stroud knows he'll have to lift his game to keep his rivals at bay in order to achieve an unprecedented fourth Tri-Series title - and start earning the lion's share of the $30,000 prizemoney on offer in the richest series on the calendar.

Stroud's GSXR1000 suffered a mystery ignition cut in race one while leading but fixed it for the second leg, riding faster than ever. "I was struggling to get into the groove in the second race but my times were 1m 03.28s which is faster than I've ever been around here before! For the first half of that race I was comfortable sitting behind him but I was caught behind a backmarker at the wrong time and didn't get through then Robbie pulled a gap. I tried to catch him again but the front wheel tucked under a couple of times but Robbie is riding so well I have to be totally on top of my game to match him!"

Surprise of the series is 17 year old Jaden Hassan, who bested in both races 600 Supers favourite Glen Skachill, of Wellington, himself unbeaten during last year's series. The Aucklander started each race behind early leaders and Suzuki GSXR600 riders Skachill and Dennis Charlett (Christchurch), but valiantly fought through on his Yamaha R6, taking full advantage of his home track knowledge.

Aucklander Karl Morgan (Suzuki) and 15 year old Australian Josh McGrath (Yamaha) came home fourth and fifth respectively in each leg.

Hassan recently returned from a one-off race in Japan arranged by Kiwi legend Graeme Crosby, and Hassan attributes much of his success to Crosby's mentoring. Hassan rode with healing broken left toes yet set a new lap record, "In Japan Crosby helped me to understand what I was doing wrong on the bike with my riding and how to go around the corner rather than just go into it and out. It genuinely helped! I've been working on that over the last couple of weeks and on my throttle control trying to smooth my riding out," Hassan explains.

Hassan would be thrilled to repeat his victories at Manfield on Saturday where Skachill will be very difficult to beat. "It's going to really tough, especially with that new Suzuki and the mid-range power it has launching off the corners. My Yamaha is a least as good in the top end if not a little quicker, so we have some strengths and weaknesses but we'll play to our strengths."

Glen Williams took a pair of well earned wins in the popular Post Classic category, ahead of Eddie Kattenburg and 2010 Tri-Series class champion Sean Donnelly, on a much older Kawasaki machine. Steve Bridge rode an even older 1970s era Norton SBR750 Commando to a fine pair of fourth place finishes, ahead of a strong field of more powerful 1970s and '80 bikes.

Williams enjoyed a good day at the races after also winning both F3 Sportbike races on his modified Suzuki SVR650.

Wanganui's Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe scored two good wins aboard their Windle Honda sidecar, ahead of the Dwayne Bishop/Dave Dennison and Darren Pate/Karl Verdellen combinations in the first heat, then Des James/Warren Miller and female racers Tracey Anderson/Jo Mickleson in the re-started second race.

The 450 Moto class provided the crowd with some exciting racing and broad-slide manoeuvres between Richard Dibben, Glen Haden, Jayden Carrick, (all Wanganui), Toby Summers (Auckland), Scott Birch (Rotorua), Casey Bullock (Taupo) and Tauranga's Duncan Hart. Summers' experience showed by taking both wins on his Yamaha YZF450 from Carrick and Haden in race one, and Haden and Carrick in race two.

Andrew Stroud's eldest son Jacob enjoyed some great racing during his second ever motorcycle event in the entry-level Ultra Lites class. Riding a low powered Suzuki RG150 the 13 year old battled with Havelock North's Tyler Lincoln (Kawasaki KR150), who is also 13, with the pair finishing both heats ahead of more experienced adults, even if down the order. Both races were won by Otaki's Sarah Elliott.

2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series results from Hampton Downs, Saturday December 10.

F1 Superbikes race 1: Robbie Bugden (Australia, Suzuki GXR1000), 1; Craig Shirriffs (Feilding, Suzuki GSXR1000), 2; Andrew Stroud (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR1000), 3; Nick Cole (Hamilton, Kawasaki ZX10R), 4; Ray Clee (Kumeu, Suzuki GSXR 1000), 5; James Smith (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR1000), 6.

Race 2: Bugden, 1; Stroud, 2; Frost, 3; Clee, 4; Smith 5; Scott Moir (Taupo, Honda CBR1000), 6.

Round 1 points: Robbie Bugden, 50; Andrew Stroud, 42; Sloan Frost, 34; Ray Clee, 34; Nick Cole, 33, James Smith, 31.

F2 600 Supers race 1: Jaden Hassan (Auckland, Yamaha R6), 1; Glen Skachill (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR600), 2; Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR600), 3; Karl Morgan (Auckland, Suzuki GSXR600), 4; Josh McGrath (Australia, Yamaha R6), 5; Kenneth Jones (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR600), 6.

Race 2: Hassan, 1; Skachill, 2; Charlett, 3; Morgan, 4; McGrath, 5; Rhys Holmes (Katikati, Yamaha R6), 6.

Round 1 points: Jaden Hassan, 50; Glen Skachill, 45; Dennis Charlett, 40; Karl Morgan, 36; Josh McGrath, 32; Rhys Holmes, 29.

450 Supermoto race 1: Toby Summers (Auckland, Yamaha YZF450), 1; Jayden Carrick (Wanganui, Suzuki RMZ450), 2; Glenn Haden (Wanganui, Honda CRF450), 3; Scott Birch (Rotorua, Aprilia SXV450), 4; Casey Bullock (Taupo, KTM 450SXF), 5; Duncan Hart (Tauranga, Husqvarna 450RR), 6 .

Race 2: Summers, 1; Haden, 2; Carrick, 3; Richard Dibben (Wanganui, Honda CRF450), 4; Bullock, 5; Birch, 6.

Round 1 points: Toby Summers, 51; Glenn Haden, 42; Jayden Carrick, 42; Scott Birch, 33; Casey Bullock, 32; Duncan Hart, 29.

F1 Sidecars race 1: Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe (Wanganui, Windle F1 1000), 1; Dwayne Bishop/Jono Abbott (Wanganui, Yamaha R1), 2; Darren Pate/Karl Verdellen (Katikati, ZX10), 3; Des James/Warren Miller (Auckland, Suzuki Applecross), 4; Tracey Anderson/Jo Mickleson) Tauranga, Yamaha 600), 5; Corey Winter/Tim Shepherd (Wanganui, Honda CBR1000), 6.

Race 2: Unsworth/Dawe, 1; James/Miller, 2; Anderson/Mickleson, 3; Pate/Verdellen, 4; Winter/Shepherd, 5.

Round 1 points: Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe, 51; Des James/Warren Miller, 40; Darren Pate/Karl Verdellen, 38; Tracey Anderson/Jo Mickleson, 36; Corey Winter/Tim Shepherd, 31.

Post Classic race 1: Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Bimota YB8 1000), 1; Eddie Kattenberg (Hawkes Bay, Yamaha FZR1000), 2; Sean Donnelly, (Paraparaumu, Kawasaki GPZ1100), 3; Steve Bridge (Ngaruawahia Norton SBR750), 4; Patric Nassbaum (Kerikeri, Kawasaki ZX10), 5; Michael Webster (Whitby, Kawasaki ZXR750), 6.

Race 2: Williams, 1; Kattenberg, 2; Donnelly, 3; Bridge, 4; Nassbaum, 5; Webster, 6.

Round 1 points: Williams, 51; Kattenberg, 44; Donnelly, 40; Bridge, 36; Nassbaum, 32; Webster, 30.

BEARS race 1: Rhys Holmes (Katikati, BMW S1000RR); Travis Moan (Auckland, BMW S1000RR), 2; Sloan Frost (Wellington, BMW HP2), 3; Jamie Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 4; Duncan Coutts (Whangarei, Aprilia RSVR1000), 5; Damian Mackie (Te Puke, Ducati 1198), 6.

Race 2: Moan, 1; Holmes, 2; Frost, 3; Coutts, 4; Galway 5; Nick Prestige (Hawera, Ducati 1098R), 6.

Round 1 points: Moan, 48; Holmes, 47; Frost, 40; Coutts, 34; Galway, 34; Mackie, 29.

F3 Sportbikes race 1: Scott Moir (Taupo, Honda RSV450), 1; Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Suzuki SVR650), 2; Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki SV650), 3; Dillon Telford (Otaki, Supermono RP650), 4; Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt, Suzuki SV650), 5; Ants Singer (Leeston, Suzuki SV650), 6.

Race 2: Williams, 1; Fitzgerald, 2; Jason Nairn (New Plymouth, Suzuki SV650), 3; Daniel Mettam (Auckland, Honda RS125GP), 4; Bentley, 5; Gavin Veltmeyer (New Windsor, Suzuki SV650), 6.

Round 1 points: Williams 48; Fitzgerald 38; Telford, 36; Bentley 32; Mettam, 32; Singer 30.

Ultralites race 1: Sarah Elliot (Otaki, Honda CBR250RR), 1; Graeme Billington (Mt Maunganui, Honda CBR250RR), 2; Sarah Rosacker (Marton, Honda CBR250RR), 3; Seth Devereux (Christchurch, Kawasaki EX250), 4; Sam Croft (Paraparaumu, Kawasaki Ninja 250R), 5; Aaron Hassan (Auckland, Kawasaki EX250), 6.

Race 2: Elliot, 1; Rosacker, 2; Devereux, 3; Croft, 4; Rob Bryson (Otaki, Kawasaki KR 150) 5; Hassan, 6.

Round 1 points: Sarah Elliot, 51; Sarah Rosacker, 42; Seth Devereux, 38; Sam Croft, 34; Graeme Billington, 30; Rob Bryson, 30.

2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series Schedule;

Rnd 2: Manfeild, December 17

Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, December 26

Hampton Downs Raceway has put its hand up to host a V8 Supercars race.

Next year, New Zealand’s Hamilton street race will host its final V8 race, and finding a replacement circuit has been high on V8 Supercars priority list for 2013.

There has been investigations in recent months to move New Zealand’s event to a new venue at the Whenuapai Air Base near Auckland, or redevelop Pukekohe Park, but Hampton Down’s managing director Tony Roberts says that his venue will table a proposal to host the 2013 New Zealand leg of the V8 Supercars Championship.

“We have been working with a consortium of financial advisors, planners and investors for the past year analysing potential track operations and the future for a motor sport focused business park,” said Roberts.

“Based on that work we anticipate being in a position to take our proposal to the V8 Supercars organisers in the first quarter of next year.

An aerial view of the Hampton Downs circuit

“Hampton Downs has the potential to be the long-term future home of motorsport, and the pre-eminent motorsport park in Australasia.

“It already has a fully functioning 2.7 kilometre track with the necessary FIA Category 3 standard for V8 Supercars racing, and we have resource consent to extend the track to 3.8 kilometres.

“This extension can be undertaken at any time and could be completed a full year ahead of when the track would be needed for the V8s.

“When fully completed spectators will have extensive views of the track from various vantage points.”

V8 Supercars racing in New Zealand is one of the most attended sporting events in the country. Besides the country having a large per-capita interest in motorsport, the popularity of V8s soared in 2001 when the V8 Supercars first held a round of its championship at Pukekohe. Local hero Greg Murphy won the first three rounds at the track, cementing the category’s future in the country.

Roberts says that plans have already been made to accommodate the huge crowd that would attend the meeting.

“Our current resource consent allows us to hold events with up to 20,000 spectators,” he said.

“We have the land capacity to easily accommodate more than 60,000 people.

“Hampton Downs is 45 minute drive down State Highway 1 from downtown Auckland, and has a population catchment area of more than a third of New Zealand’s population within an hour’s drive, and half the population within a three hour drive.

“While Hampton Downs has ample room to cater for large numbers of cars and buses, we are in discussions with the local authority to develop park and ride facilities within 10 minutes of the venue, and the racetrack is located between two existing train stations within 10 minutes.

“There are 23 months between now and when the 2013 V8 event is scheduled to be held in New Zealand, which is sufficient time for Hampton Downs to be upgraded to host more than 60,000 spectators, the track extended and other infrastructure completed.”

Roberts sees the permanent facility at Hampton Downs as a long-term proposition for V8 Supercars.

“The benefit Hampton Downs offers is that it is a dedicated, purpose built motor racing track, which means organisers are not involved in expensive set up and pack down costs that have been the downfall of one-off events,” he said.

“Our infrastructure will be used on a year-round basis and offers the V8 Supercars a long-term solution, rather than a temporary fix.

“Within what we are planning, the V8 event would form part of a total motor racing and motor sport programme, operating within a motor sport business park cluster.

“While not ready to release the details of our proposals, we are making this statement to counter the suggestion that the V8 Supercar Championship will inevitably be lost to New Zealand.”

V8 Supercars first held a round of its championship in New Zealand in 2001. It has retained an event every year since then. The round was first held at Pukekohe before switching to the Hamilton street track in 2008.

For this article please click here

For this article click here or go to www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz

Hampton Downs Raceway has offered its services as a long-term venue for the New Zealand V8 Supercar Championships.

With Hamilton hosting its last V8 Supercars event next April, the future for the championships looked bleak in New Zealand, with few circuits in the country up to scratch.

Championship chairman Tony Cochrane yesterday (Wed) doubted Hampton Downs would be suitable. He said the track wasn't long enough, a resource consent was needed for crowd numbers, plus there would be traffic issues at the venue which is located on State Highway 1 south of Auckland.

But Hampton Downs' managing director Tony Roberts today released a statement saying the track would be ready to host the event from 2013 onwards.

"We have been working with a consortium of financial advisors, planners and investors for the past year analysing potential track operations and the future for a motorsport-focused business park," Roberts said.

"Based on that work we anticipate being in a position to take our proposal to the V8 Supercar organisers in the first quarter of next year.

"Hampton Downs has the potential to be the long-term future home of motorsport, and the pre-eminent motorsport park in Australasia.

"It already has a fully functioning 2.7 kilometre track with the necessary FIA Category 3 standard for V8 Supercar racing, and we have resource consent to extend the track to 3.8 kilometres.

"This extension can be undertaken at any time and could be completed a full year ahead of when the track would be needed for the V8s.

"When fully completed spectators will have extensive views of the track from various vantage points.

"Our current resource consent allows us to hold events with up to 20,000 spectators and we have the land capacity to easily accommodate more than 60,000 people.

"Hampton Downs is 45 minute drive down State Highway 1 from downtown Auckland, and has a population catchment area of more than a third of New Zealand's population within an hour's drive, and half the population within a three hour drive."

Roberts suggested any traffic issues could be eased through a park and ride scheme.

"While Hampton Downs has ample room to cater for large numbers of cars and buses, we are in discussions with the local authority to develop park and ride facilities within 10 minutes of the venue, and the racetrack is located between two existing train stations within 10 minutes.

"There are 23 months between now and when the 2013 V8 event is scheduled to be held in New Zealand, which is sufficient time for Hampton Downs to be upgraded to host more than 60,000 spectators, the track extended and other infrastructure completed.

"While not ready to release the details of our proposals, we are making this statement to counter the suggestion that the V8 supercar series will inevitably be lost to New Zealand."

For this article ad more go to NZ Herald or click here

Suzuki Tri-Series: Hampton and Smith ready for series opener this weekend

Christchurch Superbike Riders Ryan Hampton and James Smith are ready to get back to top level racing this weekend at the first round of the 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park near Auckland.

Hampton has been in action recently at the Greymouth Road Races and more recently at the Burt Munro Challenge where he won the Bluff Hill Climb and Road Race events. Commenting from Christchurch before making the trek north Hampton commented "I had great success down at the Burt Munro the other week, winning the New Zealand Road Hill Climb title, along with the new record time again. I won the Teretonga sprints and the Wyndham street races so was great fun down there aside from the very average weather, I'm really looking foward to the Suzuki Tri-Series and getting a chance to mix it up with the national guys again. For 2012 my Castrol Honda is feeling great and our Bridgestone tyres have shown some positive results, this year is going to be different for me, with the bike we have for the new season things couldn't be better and I'm going to give it absolutely everything I've got. I have to thank Blue Wing Honda , Castrol , Bridgestone ,Hampton Honda, Eurotred and Whites Powersports for their valuable support this season."

James Smith hasn't raced much since last season , except a one off trip to Australia for one round of the ASBK championship in Queensland and a club day at home. A tough year for James and wife Jenny , with their home damaged after the February earthquake.But the former three time New Zealand 600 championship runner up is raring to go.

"Man I cant wait to get the racing started. I have only managed one club day so far so I'm really keen and excited to get back on the steel horse. I am coming in extremely determined after last years disappointing results, and it was real hard to stay motivated last year with what was happening here with the house and earthquake and all that .I'm very lucky I've got a supportive wife and the best sponsors who are still backing me. A huge thanks to  Suzuki,Red Fenton and Triple R , Metzeler Tyres, Shoei Helmets, Teknic Leathers, Five Gloves, The March Hare Rally , Whites Powersports and Forbes and Davies.Lets get this season underway!". He commented.

The Suzuki Tri-Series starts this weekend at Hampton Downs gates open 8am $20 for full days racing action. The series then moves to Manfeild on the 17th December and finally Wanganui's famous cemetery circuit on the 26th December.

For tickets go to www.hdticketing.co.nz

For more information please go to www.nzsbk.com or www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz

Champ wary of other Suzukis

Oppose yellow at your peril.

That's probably the message being read by contestants lining up for this season's two separate Tri Series and national superbike championship competitions, the first of which kicks off at Hampton Downs this weekend.

Not only will Waikato's Andrew Stroud (Suzuki GSX-R1000) return to defend both his superbike crowns - possibly making it four annual Suzuki Tri Series titles in succession as well as aiming to notch up a record 10th superbike title at the nationals - but he'll have a swarm of yellow Suzuki "wing men" to fly the brand as well.

Indeed, Stroud's biggest concern will be keeping the likes of fellow Suzuki men Robbie Bugden, of Australia, Feilding's Craig Shirriffs and Christchurch's James Smith at bay.

Of course, Stroud will also have to contend with men such as Tauranga's Sloan Frost (BMW), Hawera's Hayden Fitzgerald (Honda) and Hamilton's Nick Cole (Kawasaki).

"I have not done a great deal of riding lately, but the build-up has started now," Stroud said.

"Winning is always my aim ... nothing has changed at all," said the 43-year-old Hamilton-based father-of-eight.

"I know Robbie has been riding a lot in Australia and he'll probably be my biggest threat but I know Craig, Sloan, Hayden and Nick will be fast too."

Manawatu maestro Shirriffs (Suzuki GSX-R1000) is certainly one rider who fancies his chances of beating Stroud.

"Anyone is beatable.

"If I didn't think I could win, I wouldn't waste money by going racing," said the 38-year-old air-conditioning installer.

"I'm on the same bike as last year, identical to Andrew's, and it's a bike that won all but one race in the superbike nationals last season. I know it's good and that's why I'm riding one."

Christchurch's Dennis Charlett (Suzuki GSX-R600) could also be expected to defend his 600 Supersport title this season, despite what he would regard as the unwelcome attentions of talented riders such as Christchurch's John Ross, also now on a 600cc Suzuki, Wellington's Glen Skachill (Suzuki), Taupo's Scott Moir (Honda), Inglewood's Midge Smart (Yamaha) or Auckland's Jaden Hassan (Yamaha).

Timaru's Johnny Small (Suzuki), who has just turned 20, revealed he won't defend his Pro Twins title as he instead steps up to race the 600 superstock class this season.

The potency of Suzuki extends all the way through the other various bike categories too, with Auckland's Karl Morgan, New Plymouth's Terry Fitzgerald, Palmerston North's Glen Williams and the Wanganui sidecar pair of Steve Bron/Dennis Simonsen all likely to continue their respective title bids.

The Suzuki Tri Series kicks off at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, on Saturday and wraps up on the Cemetery Circuit, on Wanganui's public streets, on Boxing Day. The New Zealand Superbike Championships kick off at Ruapuna, Christchurch, on January 7-8.

By Andy McGechan

For this article and more go www.nzherald.co.nz

Fast and Furious action is on the cards when the Sidecars come out to play at Hampton Downs this weekend for the first battle of the 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series.

Tracey Bryan and Jo Mickleson

After a season out of racing Pahia’s Pete Goodwin, with Raetihi’s Dion Weedon doing the swinging; may just be the ‘fly in the ointment’ other teams might not expect when the hit the track on their Suzuki GSXR1000 powered machine and once they gain their old race track rythm should be at the sharp end of the field.

The evergreen Lawrance Brothers, Chris and Richard, on their Auckland designed and built Yamaha 1000cc will be there and should expect strong opposition from the Wanganui/Auckland combination of Adam Unsworth and Stu Dawes too. Anyone who witnessed Unsworth/Dawes and  their total domination at Paeroa Street Circuit in February, which included a lap record, would be a brave person to bet against them taking at least one win on the Waikato track.
 

For tickets go to www.hdticketing.co.nz or on the gate its $20 per person. Kids under 12 are free.

For more information go to www.nzmbk.com or www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz

EVANS LEADS KIWI TRS GRAND PRIX TEAM
New Zealand drivers prepare for overseas invasion

Defending New Zealand Grand Prix winner Mitch Evans has confirmed he will be on the grid at Manfeild on February 12th , to lead a talented line up of young Kiwi drivers in the grand finale of the International Toyota Racing Series.
The winner of the 2010 and 2011 TRS Championship titles further strengthens local prospects for success in the most significant event on the New Zealand motor racing calendar.
Other New Zealand drivers who have confirmed to race in the five round 2012 TRS season are last year’s Rookie Champion and overall series runner-up Nick Cassidy, talented Southland teen Damon Leitch, former Porsche racer Jono Lester and Canterbury newcomer Chris Vlok.
At the end of his first full season racing in GP3 in Europe, Evans is home for a holiday break – and some selected summer racing in TRS. He has committed to racing at the fourth TRS round at Hampton Downs on February 2-5th  as a prelude to racing the following weekend in the New Zealand Grand Prix meeting at Manfeild.
“It’s been a busy season in Europe, so it’s good to be home and to have some time to reflect on what has been an amazing year. I am now looking forward to starting 2012 by racing here in the New Zealand Grand Prix as this event is so special. It’s a title that has been won by so many of the sport’s great drivers and it would add real value to my CV if I can win it for a second time ,” says Evans.
“In 2010 I missed winning the GP. I finished second and I was gutted. My 2011 win at Manfeild gave me huge motivation for the season in Europe so I really want to win again in 2012 – I’d love to be able to do back-to-back wins in our Grand Prix,” said Evans.
“It’s going to be tough because the entry list is looking so good.”
Evans won the historic New Zealand Motor Cup, presented to the winner of the feature race at Hampton Downs, as well as the New Zealand Grand Prix, at the start of his 2011 season.

“The focus of my racing is now in Europe, as I head towards my goal of racing in Formula One; so that is where most of our energy and resources are focussed; but I’m very happy that I’m able to race in the two final rounds of the Toyota Series at Hampton Downs and Manfeild,” said Evans.
Evans will be back behind the wheel of a TRS car during a pre-season shakedown test at Manfeild next week. Also testing at Manfeild will be Nick Cassidy, Jono Lester, Chris Vlok and Malaysian driver Melvin Moh
Cassidy is back for his second TRS season having recently returned from a European visit where he completed a test at the invitation of the Ferrari Drivers Academy.
While there, the 17-year-old Aucklander also tested at the Barcelona circuit in Spain, where he impressed the Fortec 2.0 Renault team; finishing second fastest of 40 drivers in his first session, having never driven the car or circuit before.
Cassidy has his sights set on the TRS title and hopes to emulate his good friend Mitch Evans by launching his career into Europe with TRS credentials.
Jono Lester is looking to TRS to re-establish his career after intermittent appearances in the past couple of seasons and after a one off appearance at the final TRS round at Taupo last season where he showed he will be very competitive.
Chris Vlok from Darfield, near Christchurch, returns from competing in the Canadian Formula Ford series and steps up for his first taste of competition behind the wheel of a wings and slicks car. 
Southland’s Damon Leitch has competed in club racing to keep himself in shape and aims to build on some very good performances in his rookie season of 2011. He will look to get a fast start to the series on his home track at Teretonga. 
Leitch has opted to complete his pre-season allocation of testing on his home circuit at Teretonga in Invercargill on the Wednesday before the first round in mid-January.
“The Wednesday session before Teretonga is reserved for the overseas drivers and any New Zealander drivers that don’t take part in the Manfeild test in December,” explained TRS Category Manager Barrie Thomlinson.

 “TRS organisers are looking forward to welcoming the best overseas contingent to New Zealand in the seven year history of the series. The New Zealand drivers that are already committed will be announcing their own sponsorship and team arrangements during the coming weeks.”
At a time when Kiwi drivers are doing so well in European single seater racing, it is reassuring to have such a talented New Zealand team of young drivers preparing to defend local honours.
The Toyota Series promises to be another exciting and very competitive season of open-wheeled, single seater racing.

5th December , 2011
For further information please contact:
Barrie Thomlinson
Telephone: (09) 270 2759
Mobile:  021 984 639

Murray Taylor
Telephone: (09) 445 0209
Mobile:  027 294 7930

Website: www.toyotaracing.co.nz

2012 International Toyota Racing Series

Round 1:          12-15 January              Teretonga Park, Invercargill   Spirit of a Nation Cup

Round 2:          19-22 January              Timaru Raceway, Timaru   Timaru Herald Trophy

Round 3:          26-29 January              Taupo Motorsport Park  Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy

Round 4:          2-5 February                 Hampton Downs, Auckland  New Zealand Motor Cup

Round 5:          9-12 February               Manfeild, Feilding    New Zealand Grand Prix
(Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup) 

The Public Open Day Twilight session on Friday 2nd December has SOLD OUT!

To book for Jan 13 or Feb 10 2012 go to www.hdticketing.co.nz

One of the five drivers currently being groomed for a future in Formula 1 by the elite Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) will compete in the International Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand during January and February 2012.
Raffaele Marciello, an Italian teenager chosen by Ferrari as a potential ‘star of the future,’ is a high profile entry for New Zealand’s International racing series which, for the first time in its history, features five back-to-back racing weekends.

Marciello is the first in an exciting line-up of International drivers to be announced in the build up to the first round at the Teretonga circuit in Invercargill on January 14-15. The eighth running of the annual Toyota Racing Series looks likely to attract the largest international field as a result of this exciting new format.

“The concentrated format for the Series has proved popular with overseas teams and drivers. Confirming the driver line up takes a lot of work throughout the year so to get to this point with our first announcement is exciting and rewarding,” said TRS Category Manager Barrie Thomlinson.

“I am extremely proud to say the International entry in 2012 is shaping up to be our best and the series is starting to resemble the glory days of the Tasman series in the 1960’s when our own Chris Amon was part of Ferrari’s Formula 1 driver line up.”

“The Toyota Racing Series has earned a reputation as a high quality internationally recognised series and Raffaele Marciello is exactly the type of ambitious, talented driver we hope to attract here to compete against our best up and coming local drivers. Raffaelle was chosen for the academy after a successful karting career as a youngster and he has made a strong transition into single seater racing in Europe.” said Thomlinson.

“We have been fortunate in the past two years to have received invitations from the FDA for our young Kiwi drivers Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy to complete individual tests in Italy and through this association both drivers have been able to demonstrate their professionalism and the competiveness that has been developed in TRS.”

Evans tested the FDA Tatuus Formula Abarth car at Italy’s Misano circuit in 2010 while just two months ago Cassidy tested and then raced under the watchful eye of the FDA engineers at the Ferrari owned Mugello circuit in Italy.

“The FDA programme was launched in 2010 and is managed by Luca Baldisserri who was Michael Schumacher’s race engineer in Formula 1 and became Chief Engineer on the Ferrari F1 project. We expect that either Luca or one of the academy’s engineers will join Raffaele in New Zealand at some point during the series.”

The five drivers currently being nurtured by the FDA are Mexican Sergio Perez who is already racing in F1 with the Sauber/Ferrari team, Frenchman Jules Bianchi who competes in GP2 and is one of Ferrari F1 reserve drivers; and three young talents that have been selected from karting – Raffaele Marciello, Brandon Maisano from France and Lance Stroll from Canada.

“Both TRS and Formula Abarth chassis are built by Tatuus in Italy and through this connection we have been introduced to the FDA programme. We are delighted that the series has been recommended by the Ferrari Driver Academy to Raffaele and he will compete here to further develop his career.”

Raffaele was born in Zurich on the Swiss border region of Italy but now lives in the Ferrari factory town of Romagna, not far from the famous marquees headquarters at Maranello, Raffaele, who will turn 17 on December 17th, is nicknamed ‘Lello’ and has an impressive racing pedigree.

Ferrari talent-spotted him in European karting and prepared him for his single seater debut in Formula Abarth in 2010. He took two wins and five podium finishes in his debut single seater season and finished third overall in the new series.

In 2011 Raffaele competed with the Prema Powerteam, driving a Dallara in the Italian Formula 3 Championship where he again claimed two outright wins and again finished third in the championship.

For the 2012 TRS season Raffaele will join an impressive lineup of young drivers who will drive for the M2 Competition team run by ex A1GP Team NZ engineers Mark Pilcher and Jonathan Moury.

28 November, 2011
For further information please contact:
Barrie Thomlinson
Telephone: (09) 270 2759
Mobile: 021 984 639

Murray Taylor
Telephone: (09) 445 0209
Mobile: 027 294 7930

Website: www.toyotaracing.co.nz

2012 International Toyota Racing Series

Round 1: 12-15 January Teretonga Park, Invercargill Spirit of a Nation Cup

Round 2: 19-22 January Timaru Raceway, Timaru Timaru Herald Trophy

Round 3: 26-29 January Taupo Motorsport Park Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy

Round 4: 2-5 February Hampton Downs, Auckland New Zealand Motor Cup

Round 5: 9-12 February Manfeild, Feilding New Zealand Grand Prix
(Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup)

The 2011 Suzuki Tri-Series begins at Hampton Downs on December 10th. This year sees the debut of a new class. Ultralites is made up of machines from the Prolite 250 , 150 Streetstock and Minilite . The Prolite 250 is the modern day 250 Production class with the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and Hyosung 250 popular choices. The 150 streetstock has been around many years now and is mainly made up of older 150 Suzuki and Kawasaki machines. The Minilite has up to now only been seen at club level racing , and is made up of 250 four cylinder machines such as Honda's CBR250 , Yamaha FZR's etc.

At the Suzuki Tri-series all the classes are mixed into one. The Prolite class will be the only class run as a national championship , which starts in Christchurch on the 7th and 8th of January.
The grid may be smaller than hoped , however the racing could still be intense. The class will see reigning New Zealand 250 Prolite champion Seth Devereux make his first hit out for the year in the North Island . Dominate in the class last year , Devereux will come up against 2011 Actrix Winter Series Prolite winner Sam Croft and will mark the start of a potential Prolite battle over the next few months. Devereux on paper has more national level experience and has won at Hampton Downs and Manfeild , but Croft rode well over the winter and at lap record pace at Manfeild when conditions allowed.

The Prolite class also sees Winter series contender Aaron Carr on his Kawasaki line up and could be in the mix. Another Aaron is Hassan , younger brother of 600 class rider Jaden will take to the track on his Kawasaki 250 , Andrew Croft will also be there on another Kawasaki along with Blair Mason on the older but still fast GPX250 Kawasaki. Connor London will be sole Hyosung 250 on the grid.

Winter series winner of the Minilite class Sarah Elliot will be a force to be reckoned with on her fast CBR250 Honda four. Elliot will be joined in Minilite ranks by Sarah Rosacker on another CBR250 from Marton and veteran racer Graeme Billington also on a CBR250 Honda.

The 150 Streetstock sees the just turned 14 year old Tyler Lincoln , who won the Actrix Winter Series Streetstock class up against Alex Hockly from New Plymouth and making his racing debut will be 13 year old Jacob Stroud who's famous dad will also line up in the F1 Superbike class for the series.

The Ultralite class starts at Hampton Downs on Saturday December 10th then moves to Manfeild December 17th for the fianl round. There will be no Ultralite class at Cemetery Circuit on the 26th of December.

To purchase your early bird tickets before 5 December go to www.hdticketing.co.nz

For more information head to www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz

 November Newsletter

 

There were record numbers at the last public open day; get some laps in before Christmas on Thursday 8^th December 2011. Can’t fit in a whole day? Come to our twilight sessions from 5pm – 7pm. The next day is Friday 2^nd December 2011. You may have seen the advert in the latest G-Force Magazine! Numbers are limited, so pre-register on www.hdticketing.co.nz to ensure you don’t miss out.

The CannonBall Run is visiting on Saturday 7^th January 2012, sounds like an awesome day they are organising. The theme this year is Hero’s and Villain’s! There are over 200 cars entered. Head to www.aucklandmotorsport.co.nz for more information and to enter.

On Sunday 8^th January there is a Motorsport Open Day – following the success in July, it’s an ideal and inexpensive introduction to Motorsport. The day is split into 2 sessions. Session One 10am-1pm- Just drive around the circuit in your own car at under 100km/h behind the safety car. This is a great way to experience driving around the circuit at a comfortable pace for $30 per car. Session Two 1pm-4pm- This part of the day will be for drivers who want to experience the track at a faster pace. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire) to drive around Hampton Downs at a faster pace in small groups for $40 per car. There will be basic in-car instruction and advice on how to get into motorsport. For tickets head to www.hdticketing.co.nz

The biggest Historic Racing Festival – New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW Motorsport is also coming up in the last two weekends of January 2012. Evening events have been announced!! On Saturday 21 January from 6pm there is the Castrol BBQ in Hampton’s pavilion. Come and join Jim Richards and other drivers he has raced against. For only $25 per person you will get a smoking BBQ buffet. There will also be a cash bar open. Please note that tickets are limited.

On Saturday 28 January from 6pm in true German tradition – come and enjoy a beerfest! Located in Hampton’s pavilion there will be a live Oompah band and we encourage traditional costumes (lederhosen and dirndls)! The ticket entry includes 500 ml stein, filled with beer - needed after a long day of racing in the heat.  Once inside you can purchase a selection of European food from stalls. There will also be a cash bar and lots of stomping. Tickets are $25 per person - please note that tickets are limited.

Only 5 more days to get early bird tickets! Get in quick at www.nzfmr.co.nz

Christmas gift ideas for the hard to buy for petrol head – we have the answer! You can choose from event tickets on www.hdticketing.co.nz or drives in V8’s, Lamboghini’s, Ferraris and Aston Martins (just to name a few). There is also merchandise available, the highlight is the new Bruce McLaren Scrapbook. Head to www.hamptondowns.com for more ideas!

 One of our clients is attempting the NZ Land Speed Record – see below for the latest information.

 

Eddie Freeman Chases 348 km/hr Dream

Kiwi businessman Eddie Freeman today announced his upcoming attempt at the New Zealand Land Speed Record that currently stands at 348.23km/hr.

The Castrol Trophy for the New Zealand Land Speed Record currently held by Owen Evans was last set in 1996, a record breaking feat that nearly claimed Evans life when he lost control of his Porsche 911 Turbo.

Eddie will attempt the record in a Lamborghini Superleggera, a supercar producing 530bhp and capable in its standard specification of a top speed of 315km/hr. The car is currently at one of the world’s leading automotive tuners in the US undergoing major modifications to prepare it for the attempt.

While the exact details remain top secret, Eddie says the finished car is expected to produce close to 1300rwhp (rear wheel horse power) once the engine has been rebuilt.

“This attempt is all about reigniting the Kiwi attitude of having a go. This record has remained untouched for 15 years and it’s something I’ve always wanted to have a crack at.”

Eddie the founder of FreemanX says this attempt is very much in line with the philosophies underpinning the entire company – namely getting the most out of what life has to offer.

“Challenging the Land Speed Record seemed a project perfectly aligned to my business and a great way to celebrate ten years of providing experiences to our customers both here and in Australia. While I hope to walk away with the trophy and the experience of a lifetime, we also aim to raise money for charity from the attempt and be able to change the lives of others,” says Eddie.

Eddie’s attempt at the Land Speed Record will take place in January 2012 once all testing has been completed and official sign off has been given by Motorsport NZ. Eddie and his team will be working closely with Motorsport NZ over the coming months to gain the necessary approvals and identify the most suitable venue for the record attempt.

“It’s an in-depth process and we’re currently working through the compliance and safety aspects to ensure the attempt is not only successful but also as safe as possible.”

The major focus is set on the 348.23km/hr Land Speed Record, however during the attempt Eddie will potentially break four further records: the Flying One Kilometre Sprint, Standing Start One Kilometre Sprint, Standing Start One Mile Sprint and the Standing Start ½ Mile Sprint.

For more information go to www.freemanX.co.nz. Follow the build-up and updates from Eddie on Facebook (FreemanX New Zealand) 

For a full events calendar go to www.hamptondowns.com

Follow us on facebook for more information – simply search Hampton Downs

  

Fans clamour for speed

Some Facebook fans of New Zealand car companies will be feeling the need ... the need for speed because of competitions run on the social media site.

Holden New Zealand offered eight fans the chance to speed around the Hampton Downs Racetrack, with Kiwi driver Andy Booth, in the new Cruze hatchback that is about to go on sale in New Zealand.

The company ran a recruitment drive on Facebook and had 190 entries to spend December 2 learning new handling skills and driving techniques from Booth at the Waikato track. The eight winners will also find themselves TV stars.

"We will film the exploits on the day, and this footage of the test drive will appear in our television advertising campaign for Cruze Hatch, and on Facebook, YouTube and other sites," said Holden NZ's Marnie Jane Samphier.

Audi fans have the chance to zoom around Hampton Downs tomorrow with one of the company's famous ambassadors: MasterChef judge and restaurateur Simon Gault, NZ's Next Top Model judge Sara Tetro or Huffer designer Steve Dunstan.

The company has run its Quattro experience for 15 years - a chance for Audi owners to learn more about the capabilities of the cars from instructors - and decided this year to extend the day to Facebook fans.

"Our recent emergence into the social media space means we now have the potential to share some unique Audi experiences with a wide range of people," says Audi NZ's Fiona Woolley.

Participants will learn about the new technology in the German cars, plus compete in slalom, braking and skid-pad competitions. "Team Tetro has led the charge, already appointing two of her team members, but Team Dunstan and Team Gault are hard on her heels," says Woolley.

"We'll have a film crew at the event tomorrow and will be live-streaming it to Facebook for fans to follow, as well as putting footage up on experienceaudi.co.nz."

By Liz Dobson

For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here

Radisich back in the hot seat

At the beginning of the month, former double world touring car champion Paul Radisich was handed the CEO reins of the newly launched V8 SuperTourer racing series. He replaces Mark Petch as the company's front-line executive.

Radisich has been based primarily in the United Kingdom for the past three years, running a business providing unique pit-wall solutions for race tracks around Europe.

The 48-year-old has many race and championship wins to his credit, including nine years' fulltime competition in the Australian V8 Supercar championship, the 1993 and 1994 world touring car titles and hundreds of other touring car races around the world.

His extensive international touring car experience includes racing and winning in the Australian V8 Supercar series with teams such as Dick Johnson Racing, Triple Eight Racing, TKR and Toll HSV Racing.

The inaugural V8 SuperTourer series is expected to commence at Hampton Downs in February and Driven caught up with Radisich to get his thoughts on the new series.

Driven: How did you get to be involved in the new series?

D: What is it about the car and series you like?

R: Everything about the car I like, from the build of it all the way to the cost. You can buy a car for $180,000 ready on the track to go. The car is bullet-proof and the only major cost will be incurred if drivers run into each other. It's over-engineered for a job and it's what we need. When you're talking seasons of running, you're only looking at maintenance costs. It's got a 7-litre engine and will be faster than a V8 Supercar.

Everything's the same and the only differences will be the body shells and, of course, as time goes, hopefully other manufacturers will jump aboard.

D: There seems to be a bit of interest from across the ditch?

R: Yes, that's right, Greg Murphy has already made the decision to come back and race in the series and, just recently, Cam McConville has committed to the series. I can remember when I first started racing you had to disappear overseas because there was hardly any racing. Now there's an opportunity to race summer and winter - all year round if they so choose. Also there's the added attraction of being able to race the fastest cars in Australasia.

D: Since your contract ended recently in the UK, this opportunity must have come at the right time.

R: It keeps me involved in motorsport without having to do the hard job turning up every time and driving every day. Not that the other side of the fence is any easier, but it's something I've always been interested in and the timing has worked out perfectly.

D: You're still a relatively young bloke, but did you decide that rather than sit inside a tin-top and rubbing door handles you'd rather take more of an overview?

R: Look, if I hadn't decided to throw myself into a fence and become the Australian Supercars crash dummy then I'd still be going around and around. It's one of the things that's very hard to let go [racing] and I had let go as far as fulltime racing was concerned. In my mind I sort of had let go but was still hanging on a bit. I've never really been that keen on running a team and I wanted to get into the administration side of things and I guess this is my chance to be involved in running a series.

D: Speaking of your big crashes, how are your injuries?

R: It's taken three years to recover. I'm good now and I don't need to lie down during the day. There are certain things I have to manage but, overall, I'm as good as can be.

D: Now that you're fighting fit, do you think you'll be doing any one-off races?

R: In the UK, I got involved in the historic side of racing and I really enjoyed that and it was only for fun. I was at Goodwood and that was great. No-pressure stuff and a very short time in the seat. I can't spend a long time and hustle in the seat any more as I would like. To answer your question: yes, I'm okay for a couple of laps.

2012 Sprint Championship

Round 1 February 17-19
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
North Waikato

Round 2 April 7-8
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway
Christchurch

Round 3 April 27-29
Manfeild Autocourse
Feilding

Round 4 June 1-3
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
North Waikato

2012 Endurance Championship

Round 5 August 10-12
Taupo Motorsport Park
Taupo

Round 6 September 21-23
Hampton Downs Motorsport Park
North Waikato

Round 7 October 26-28
Powerbuilt Tools Raceway
Christchurch

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here

2011 Suzuki International Tri-Series

Kiwi rally champion Ben Hunt heads to international Fiesta shootout

Photo credit Euan Cameron.

Scholarship Winner To Debut At Hampton Downs

 

Boomrock owner drives new venture

The owner of Wellington corporate retreat Boomrock has a new passion in life – making New Zealand roads safer. Jonny Eastwick talks to Catherine Harris.

A tour around Boomrock with the owner is a bit like taking inventory. Gun range? Check. Helicopter pads? Check. Racetrack?

"Hang on," says Jonny Eastwick as he accelerates his 4WD Mercedes Benz. "We're going to take this corner a little fast."

He presses the accelerator and just as the stomach starts to lurch, the vehicle's automatic stability control kicks in, bringing what seemed like an out-of-control ride right back into line.

This is obviously a showstopper for many of Boomrock's corporate visitors and the view is amazing. Eastwick observes with a smile that this is one of the few racetracks that appears to fall into the sea. It's an optical illusion, of course. Boomrock is perched atop Eastwick's family farm at the top of Ohariu Valley. To the south, Makara's windswept shores. To the north, Mana Island and Titahi Bay.

Eastwick's farm has been in his family for three generations. By all accounts, he is a very private person which is one reason why only staff can drive up there. Everyone else comes in by helicopter or bus.

"I think that we like to use it very much as a family, hence we won't put accommodation in here ... You know it's your own when no-one's here, which is really important to us as a family."

Eastwick did an agricultural degree and always figured farming would be his career. But a downturn in farming 16 years ago led him to start thinking laterally.

"I was brought up that farming was going to be [my] life and then had to fully re-educate which has been the interesting part."

His solution was a luxury retreat with the best of food and adventurous activities which were outside the daily norm. The lodge sits on a family picnic spot.

"In the early days no-one did anything up here because it was too windy, but once we broke away from that thought pattern and could actually get power in ...

"We obviously took a bit of a risk at that stage and honestly, from the day it's gone in, it's given a lot of people a lot of satisfaction."

A racetrack, designed with the help of racing driver Peter Brock, followed. Visitors can also try their hand at helicopter flying, extreme off-roading, knife throwing, archery, golf, claybird shooting, whisky tasting or cooking with celebrity chefs.

Ad Feedback However, Eastwick has always wanted Boomrock to be more than a luxury playground. His aim was to be "a brand other leading brands wanted to be a part of".

His partners are Mercedes, which uses the racetrack exclusively as a showcase for buyers and Boomrock visitors, and Beretta, which supplies the guns.

The added benefit of Boomrock for Eastwick are the guests he meets and the ideas they bring. A self-taught entrepreneur, he believes one of the benefits of not having a formal business background is that he has no restrictions. "I've always looked at things a little differently. I'm being educated all the time.

"I personally feel each and every person's got their own opportunity and you've got to make the most of it. Every person who works here is out of their comfort zone all the time.

"We're very, very open to ... investigating other opportunities, and luckily now we get a lot of opportunities put in front of us, which is fantastic."

ONE OF those opportunities, and Eastwick's most recent project, is Fleetsafe NZ, a sophisticated driver education programme.

"We were getting people coming through who were looking at buying fleets of cars and key people were jumping out saying, `Look, I want to put my whole team through here."'

Eastwick had already been thinking about driver safety and, in tandem with researchers, began developing an educational package.

"It's leading edge technology," he says, pulling out a hard black briefcase and several pieces of equipment.

One plugs into the car computer, collecting information about driver reactions, distance travelled and fuel used, as a professional driver puts the trainee through their paces.

Then, using technology from the United States and Waikato University, the trainee gets an assessment of their performance.

"You get a reading out from there whether you are low, medium or high risk. In our research [New Zealanders] are about 9 per cent low risk, so there's a huge problem here."

The next stage is a half-day practical done at racetracks around the country, with NZQA standards.

Professional drivers in Mercedes Benz cars educate the trainees, and all the information is put into a formal report which looks at both the individual driver and the company's performance.

Although Fleetsafe has largely been used by corporates, Eastwick thinks it has much wider applications.

He is about to do a pilot programme with two Wellington schools using racing driver Greg Murphy as frontsman. "What we've got to do is change the culture and you can't just do it with the older drivers, you've got to come at the front end as well."

Eventually he would like to market it to all drivers. Research in Britain has shown similar programmes have reduced crashes by up to 50 per cent and fuel usage by up to 30 per cent.

"There are $3.6 billion associated with road crashes in New Zealand, that's social costs. So we expect substantial savings. That's not just for the Government, it's for everyone. It's for you and I."

Eastwick can see a market for Fleetsafe technology overseas and he'd like to see Boomrock break further into the Australian market – "we do a lot of things which you can't do in Australia".

The Rugby World Cup gave him a helping hand in the form of two Australian film crews that served up an eyeful of Boomrock scenery on primetime TV.

With 80 per cent of Boomrock's business still domestically based, Eastwick admits the recession has had an impact.

But just as he did earlier, he sees diversifying his income as a way to overcome cyclical downturns. "The end of 2010 was definitely a lot softer for us, and we just have to diversify our clientele and we probably do a lot more private functions than we used to do."

I suggest Eastwick's farming background has something to do with his outlook, that opportunities – like land – can be pioneered.

He nods. With Fleetsafe NZ, he says, "we want to make a difference in New Zealand and with Boomrock, we want to give people an amazing lifelong memory ... Everything's about the experience."

- Fairfax Media

To view this article click here

Veteran Smith aims for five in a row

He will head to Ruapuna happy in the knowledge that last year he made a clean sweep in qualifying and set a lap record.

Before that, Smith was one of four drivers - Peter Whitehead, Jim Clark and Craig Baird are the others - to have won the trophy three times - in his case across three different decades, first in 1976 in a Lola T332 F5000, then in 1990 in a Swift Toyota Formula Pacific, and in 2009 and 2010 in a Formula 5000.

Although he has yet to properly test the car, Smith says he expects it to be competitive straight out of the box. "Barry's done the whole thing and it's absolutely beautiful."

He believes his competition this season will again come from the McRae GM1s of Ross and Esterer.

Traditionally, the MSC series entry has been supplemented by overseas drivers in January and February, but this season Esterer, Chris Lambden and British driver Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) have entered all six rounds, including the season finale at Phillip Island, Australia, in early March.

Lining up against Smith, Ross, Esterer, Lambden and Thornton this weekend will be a mix of series regulars and newcomers split fairly evenly between the North and South Islands.

The round will also see the series debut of well-known local historic category racer Dave Arrowsmith in a rare Ford-powered Lotus 78, and Aucklander David Banks in a Talon MR1/A.

The meeting is supported by Historic Touring Cars, Classic Saloons, the Open Saloon Car Association, Historic OSCA, Mini 7s, pre-65s and motorcycles.

CALENDAR
Round 1: Nov 5-6
Wigram Revival meeting
Ruapuna Park, Christchurch

Round 2: Nov 12-13
MG Classic
Manfeild, Feilding

Round 3: Jan 21-22
NZ Festival of Motor Racing
Hampton Downs

Round 4: Jan 28-29
NZ Festival of Motor Racing
Hampton Downs

Round 5: Feb 4-5
Skope Classic meeting
Ruapuna Park, Christchurch

Round 6: March 9-11
Phillip Island Classic meeting
Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia

By Eric Thompson

Head to NZ Herald for this article and more.

Drift along for smoky action

By Eric Thompson

One of the fastest-growing motorsport categories swings into action this weekend at Manfeild when the D1NZ Drifting Championship sees 55 drivers open their campaigns.

As well as vying for line honours, contestants will have an eye on the $5000 cash first prize.

"At each round this season, the winner will earn a one-off cash prize or package of $5000," said series organiser Brendon White.

"At Manfeild, the money is coming from Shred Motorsport in Lower Hutt and it's got everybody talking."

Organisers of the opening national round have received a bumper 55 entries, including defending and three-time champion Gaz Whiter (Nissan S14) from Dargaville.

He'll be battling it out with former series champion Daniel Woolhouse from Whangarei (Holden Commodore), high-profile international Mike Whiddett (Mazda RX7) from Auckland, and the winner and runner-up respectively of the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge in Sydney, Carl Whittaker (Toyota 2JZ-engined Nissan Skyline R34) and Daynom Templeman (Mazda RX7), both from Auckland.

As well as the head-to-head action between the top contenders, fans will be able to see the new D1ProAm series for 20 rookie drivers, with the newbies getting mentoring from the D1 series drivers.

A local driver to watch out for in the ProAm ranks is Wanganui's Ricki Lee, who drives a Mazda RX7.

Leading the local D1NZ line-up are Palmerston North drivers Will Cook (Toyota Supra) and Shane Rutland (Nissan S14), and Wellingtonians Carlos Walters Rangitihi (Nissan Skyline R33) and Dimitri Amos (Nissan SR20-engined Toyota Corolla).

Hawke's Bay driver Mac Kwok will also be a crowd-pleaser behind the wheel of his twin-turbocharged V8-engined Nissan S13, one of the most spectacular drift combinations in the country at the moment.

"We're a show sport," White said.

"We're entertainers.

"We do it for the fans - the people who pay good money to come and see us - as much as we do it for ourselves."

Drifting differs from conventional motor racing in that drivers do not complete a lap and there is no first past the post.

At each competition venue, a course is mapped out with specific start, finish and clipping-point areas.

The general idea is for each driver to drift (slide or oversteer) the car through each corner with the power on, the tyres smoking and with controlled precision.

Drivers are also awarded points for style.

After single-car qualifying runs through the course to establish a top 32, competitors then battle each other through two tandem runs, with each driver getting a chance to lead and follow. Judges mark drivers on line, angle of drift, speed, how close they were able to stay to the other driver, and - a popular criteria for the fans - the amount of smoke produced by their car's spinning tyres.

Once the top 32 has been whittled down to the best 16, this lot go back head-to-head to establish a last eight, then four and finally two.

The remaining two drivers then go at it to ascertain the overall champion of the round.

Manfeild is the ideal venue for the opening round, as it has an infield combination of a tight-banked left-hander, open right kink, then sharp-banked left-hand hairpin.

There are large outfield spectator embankments for fans to get a feel for what is happening on the track.

There have been some great battles at Manfeild in the past and the cash up for grabs will crank the competition up even more.

"All the drivers will be pushing so much harder, it's going to be mega," White said.

New Zealand was one of the first countries to set up a dedicated drift series and, since 2003, the local scene has developed into one of the best, and most competitive, in the world. White said: "Though there are now something like 40 drifting championships in the world, ours is consistently recognised as one of the top-five elite ones."

Calendar

Round 1: Oct 28-29, 2011
Manfeild, Feilding
Round 2: Nov 25-26, 2011
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Round 3: Dec 16-17, 2011
Taupo Motorsport Park
Round 4: Feb 10-11, 2012
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Round 5: March 09-10, 2012
Whangarei Street Course
Round 6: April 06-07, Grand Final
Hampton Downs, Waikato

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here

BMWs in many different forms and from many different eras will be the stars of January's Festival of Motor Racing.

Following on from recent success, the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing is having another action-packed outing over two weekends next year at Hampton Downs.

The two events will be on January 20-22 and January 27-29.

Fans will see cars spanning decades of worldwide motor racing history at New Zealand's newest and most demanding circuit. Many of the cars will have been part of the New Zealand race scene in the formative years of the sport.

Aside from all the glorious cars on show, the event attracts plenty of names from the past and present of motor racing, giving a rare chance to see world-famous drivers in a wide range of cars.

The first two festivals paid homage to New Zealand driving legends Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon; next year's festival honours a car manufacturer BMW, which has a rich motor racing history in New Zealand and abroad.

As is the case each year, the festival is about the cars and the drivers, and there will be some legendary names from BMW motorsport and New Zealand motorsport at each weekend's event.

Chris Amon will attend once again, this time to mark his own links to the German brand.

Touring car legend Jim Richards is also down to race, as are other notable BMW racers of the time.

But it's not all about BMWs. There is much more to see and do especially with drivers from the Britain, the United States Canada, Monaco and Australia again making the trip with their bellowing Formula 5000 beasts as they again try to best 70-something Kiwi racing legend Kenny Smith.

The New Zealand-based F5000 series is widely regarded as the best of its kind in the world for these 1960s and 1970s monsters.

With 30-plus cars lining up on the grid for both weekends, the Hampton Downs event has become one of the premier race meetings on the world calendar for the class.

This is no moving museum - the cars are well prepared, highly tuned, and immaculately presented, and they will be rubbing wheels as hard as any other class of racing over the two weekends.

When the lights go out and the pedal hits the metal it'll be like climbing into a time machine and going back to the heyday of the class in the 1970s.

For next year, Kenny Smith will be re-united with the car that he made his name when racing the category - the mighty Lola T332.

Something new and exciting for the festival will be the first appearance at the event of the domestic historic BMW racing series.

Run for mainly three and five series racers of varying vintages, it is an illustration of how popular the brand is in New Zealand, and it will be a feature part of both weekends of racing at Hampton Downs.

It is the success story of motor sport in New Zealand in recent years. During times when other racing classes have dwindled or stagnated in the face of economic pressures, the BMW series has thrived.

In the five years since it was formed, it has gone from modest grids of eight to 10 cars to three full grids.

Several former BMW Motorsport drivers will be at the festival.

These drivers drove in the Nissan Mobil 500 at Wellington and Pukekohe in the 1980s and 1990s. Many also featured in the Benson & Hedges series and ANZ Touring car series in the 1980s, and the NZ Touring Car series of the 1980s and 1990s.

Confirmed names are Rodger Anderson, Paul Fahey, Steve Millen, Neville Crichton, Wayne Wilkinson, Kent Baigent, Neil Lowe, Graeme Crosby, Jim Richards, Tony Lawrence, Phil Myhre (Brunei), Jim Keogh (Australia), Ludwig Finauer (Australia), Ed Lamont, Graeme Cameron, Paul Radisich, John Sax, Brett Riley, Craig Baird, Keith Sharp and Bernie Gillon.

Static BMW displays will also be an attraction of the event, with the legendary BMW CSL Batmobile taking the centre stage.

As far as rare and valuable cars go, there are few to match this particular beast.

It's an ex-works car once piloted by the likes of Amon and Hans Stuck, and it is still owned by the BMW factory.

It is one of dozens of pieces of incredibly valuable machinery that visitors will be able to inspect at close range.

This ability to get a close-up view is one of the main attractions of the festival in a day and age when public access to drivers and cars is usually blocked by a fence, and is one of the main reasons so many people flocked to the event in the first two years.

BMW NZ will also bring from the BMW Museum in Germany a race version of the rare BMW M1 ProCar.

This car was raced by Prince Leopold von Bayern in the late 1970s, and the prince will be demonstrating it at the second weekend of the Festival.

Earlybird tickets are available from www.nzfmr.co.nz until the end of this month.

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here

Early bird tickets available for just two more weeks

Early bird tickets are still available, but only until the end of October, for the two biggest weekends in historic motorsport in New Zealand.

When the green lights prompt the first cars onto track for the 2012 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing at Hampton Downs on January 20-22 and 27-29 the glories of the country’s motorsport  past will be celebrated and re-visited in style with the theme of the festival in 2012 one of the world’s most revered racing brands – BMW.

Visitors to the festival can expect to see cars spanning decades of worldwide motor racing history take to the challenging Hampton Downs circuit, including many machines that featured heavily in the formative years of the sport in New Zealand. Aside from the machines, the event attracts plenty of names from the past and present of motor racing, offering a rare chance to see world-famous names driving a wide range of cars.

As is the case each year with the Festival it is the cars, and sometimes the drivers as well, that are the stars and once again there will be some legendary names from BMW motorsport and New Zealand motorsport in attendance. Kiwi legend Chris Amon will be on hand once again, this time to mark his own inexorable links to the German brand, while touring car legend Jim Richards is down to race, as are other notable BMW racers of the time. Additionally, drivers from the UK, USA, Canada, Monaco and Australia will again make the trip with their fabulous Formula 5000 machinery as they attempt to beat seventy-something Kiwi racing icon Kenny Smith.

Expect to see a number of former BMW Motorsport drivers at the Festival.  These drivers drove in the Nissan Mobil 500 at Wellington and Pukekohe in the 1980s & 1990s. Many also featured in the Benson & Hedges series and ANZ Touring car series in the 1980s, and the NZ Touring Car series of the 1980s and 1990s. Names so far include - Rodger Anderson, Paul Fahey, Steve Millen, Neville Crichton, Wayne Wilkinson, Kent Baigent, Neil Lowe, Graeme Crosby, Jim Richards, Tony Lawrence, Phil Myhre (Brunei), Jim Keogh (Australia), Ludwig Finauer (Australia), Ed Lamont, Graeme Cameron, Paul Radisich, John Sax, Brett Riley, Craig Baird, Keith Sharp and Bernie Gillon.

Static BMW displays will also be a major feature of the event – with the legendary BMW CSL ‘Batmobile’ taking the centre stage. As far as rare and valuable cars go, there are few to match this particular beast, an ex-works car once piloted by the likes of Amon and Hans Stuck and still owned by the BMW factory itself. Pretty much priceless, it is just one of dozens and dozens of incredibly valuable machinery that members of the public will be able to get up close and personal with – a key cultural aspect of the festival in a day and age when public accessibility to drivers and cars is usually blocked by a fence and one of the significant reasons why the public have flocked to the event in the first two years.

BMW NZ will also bring from the BMW Museum in Germany a race version of the very rare BMW M1 ‘ProCar’.  This car was raced by Prince Leopold von Bayern in the late 1970s.  The Prince will demonstrate the M1 at the second weekend of the Festival.
 

For more information and to purchase your early bird tickets go to: www.nzfmr.co.nz

Whenuapai a logistical mess

By Eric Thompson - NZ Herald

There has been a fair amount of chatter over the wires in the past few weeks about the V8 Supercars leaving Hamilton after 2012 and where they might end up.

There's been mention of the Whenuapai Royal New Zealand Air Force base as a possible new home for the big bangers. While not wanting to pour cold water on the concept, the logistics of holding a race there makes Hamilton look like a teddy bear's picnic.

For a start, it's an operational airport and as Jim Barclay, who was a base commander there between 1994 and 1998, explains, moving things out would be a logistical nightmare.

"It's a tall ask but anything is possible. When I was there you'd march 30 paces back on to the grass and put a rope up to keep the spectators back," said Barclay. "You can't do that any more. They've got to build a complete infrastructure, which is no different to a street race, I suppose. It certainly could be done but you'd have to ship the Air Force planes out for about two weeks.

"The search and rescue P3 Orion would also have to be moved across to Auckland International Airport and all that has to be paid for."

As well as being a former Air Force man, Barclay has had a love of motorsport since he was a boy and is still involved in the sport today. Having spent so many years in and around racing, Barclay, who was at pains to state he's not against the V8s going to Whenuapai, has a better understanding than most of what is involved in getting the base race-ready.

"I've read they're doing a replacement of the main runway and maybe can't run on some of that so would have to build another track.

"To build a track now it has to be to modern FIA standards and I'm not sure where they could do that at Whenuapai.

"You can't run modern-day race cars on concrete runways anymore and the cross runway at Whenuapai is so rough it would shake the car to pieces. I remember when I was flying Skyhawks, if we landed on the cross runway you might be lucky to get two landings out of the tyres.

"Guess what it would do to a joker's teeth if he was to race on it? Noise is a problem, also. The complaints we got from operating aeroplanes from the surrounding area was huge. So I'm not too sure how racing V8s there is going to go down."

Pukekohe has similar noise issues aligned to the ever-encroaching retail park that has some of the business residents already complaining about the sound levels during racing.

The one place that does appear to tick all the boxes, and is purpose-built to boot, is Hampton Downs.

Some say the Hampton Downs circuit is too short for V8 Supercars racing but, at 2.7km, it is longer than two Australian circuits already in use in the championship.

The Barbagallo circuit in Perth and Symmonds Plains in Tasmania are both approximately 2.4km in length. There are two other tracks in Australia, Hidden Valley in Darwin and Townsville, that are 2.85km in length.

"Hampton Downs Motorsport Park has cost over $30 million to build and is used every day of the year for driver training, corporate days and motor racing," said managing director Tony Roberts.

"Prime Minister John Key has talked about the importance of the legacy that the Rugby World Cup will leave in New Zealand, so surely having the V8 Supercars at an existing circuit makes more sense than building another temporary facility that is torn down following the weekend?"

At the moment, Hampton Downs has consent for only 20,000 spectators a day but Roberts has thought about getting around that.

"The council has been approached and the existing consent for 60,000 spectators over three days could be easily increased with a feasible traffic management plan.

"Satellite parking and the use of shuttle buses would allow for many more people than the existing 35,000 car-parking capacity," he said.

A bloke who knows a bit about motor racing, Greg Murphy, may be worth listening to.

"I am blown away with what has been done at Hampton Downs. The facility is without doubt the best in Australasia and is spectacular. The track has its own DNA and will generate great racing. It's hard to believe this is actually in New Zealand," the four-time Bathurst winner said last year.

Ultimately, though, the V8 Supercars will race where series' chairman Tony Cochrane decides they will.

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here

Chris Amon happy to be behind wheel of BMW 3.0CSL for first time in 38 years, writes Alastair Sloane.

 Expand Chris Amon has fond memories of racing the coupe in the 1973 European Touring Car Championship. Photo / SuppliedThe eyes of the man Enzo Ferrari called the "best test driver I ever had" peered into the open door of the enclosed trailer and focused on the front end of the two-door coupe: New Zealand race great Chris Amon was once again face-to-face with the car nicknamed the "Batmobile".

He had not seen the BMW 3.0CSL for 38 years, since he and German driver Hans-Joachim Stuck teamed in the 1973 European Touring Car Championship.

Now the No 12 car with its factory livery and "Amon Stuck" pairing on the door was in Amon's backyard, being wheeled out of its trailer this week on the driveway of his farm at Kinloch, near the shores of Lake Taupo.

The 3.0CSL was specially built in 1972 for the championship. Its 250kW 3.5-litre straight-six engine was mated to a five-speed gearbox, a drivetrain good for about 275km/h.

BMW brought it from its motorsport museum in Munich, specifically for the New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing, at Hampton Downs in January. The 3.0CSL is valued at $1.5 million.

Amon walked around it, chuckled at its four wide slick tyres, ran a hand over the bodywork and massive rear wing, opened the driver's door and settled down behind the steering wheel.

"I don't remember if this is the actual driver's seat from 1973 but it feels good," he said. Then he drove down memory lane, back to a year of touring car race rivals such as Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Jacky Ickx, Jochen Mass, Jacques Berger and the crash deaths of drivers Rodger Dubos, Hans-Peter Joisten, and Massimo Larini at Spa.

Amon's race career from the early 1960s through to 1973 had been pretty much confined to Formula One and sports racers like the Ford GT40, Ferrari 330 P4, and McLaren Can Am cars, among others.

"I found the CSL touring car quite a handful after Formula One," he said. "There is more roll, more vertical movement. You are sitting a lot higher, not that that makes a lot of difference.

"But it took me a while to adapt to the car. You don't have the same degree of surplus of power in a touring car as you have in Formula One. You tend to overdrive them at first and you end up going slower."

Amon said his first drive in the CSL was at practice in Austria for the four-hour Salzburg race, the second event on the 1973 calendar after Monza. "Then it snowed so they cancelled the race. I can't remember doing a lot of testing after that."

Amon and Stuck missed the next race at Sweden's Mantorp Park but lined up for the fourth event and a win in the German six-hour at the Nurburgring.

CSLs finished one, two and three. Niki Lauda grabbed pole, set the fastest lap, and came in third. Dutchman Toine Hezemans, Austrian Dieter Quester, and German Harald Menzel took second place, eight seconds behind Amon and Stuck.

"I was still getting used to the car," said Amon. "Stuck was very good and the worst thing is to be slower than your teammate. The next [24-hour] race at Spa gave me the chance to have two- and three-hours stints at the wheel. Then I was sort of on the pace."

Stuck took pole position and Amon set the fastest lap, but the pair retired with engine damage. The Spa race was marred by the deaths of Frenchman Dubos, German Joisten, and Italian Larini.

Amon qualified first in the next event in Zandvoort, Netherlands, but he and Stuck retired after an accident. They had better luck in the seventh event at the Paul Ricard track in France. Amon set the fastest lap on the way to the team's third place.

The final four-hour race of the season was at Britain's Silverstone track. As usual the race was divided into heats of two hours each. Stuck took the drive but retired with clutch problems. He and Amon finished the 1973 championship with 32 points, equal-seventh with Lauda.

The BMW 3.0CSL would go on to dominate the European touring car championship, winning every year from 1975 to 1979.

* The January festival has a BMW theme. Organiser Jim Barclay said the 3.0CSL would be joined by cars like the JPS BMW 635CSi and JPS BMW M3, the ex-Peter Brock/Jim Richards BMW Mobil M3, and the ex-Denny Hulme B&H BMW M3. "We even have a DTM [German touring championship] car coming, which should wow the crowds all by itself," Barclay said.

By Alastair Sloane | Email Alastair

For more information and tickets to the Festival go to www.nzfmr.co.nz

To read this NZ Herald article click here

TO VIEW THE LATEST HAMPTON DOWNS OCTOBER NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE

Hamilton is losing its V8 Supercars street race after next April's event.

Click here for article

V8SuperTourers appoints marketing and promotions expert

New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing celebrating BMW August Newsletter is below.

Please click here for the PDF link

August Newsletter

Don’t forget this Friday from 1pm - 4pm is a fundraiser for Te Kauwhata St John Building Project!

Cost per car on gate: $5
Cost per car for the full experience: $30
Includes – 3 circuit laps, 2 skid pan sessions, 3 raffle tickets (for various items)

Circuit laps:
Behind a pace car (limit of 100km)
10 – 15 cars per session
Each session gets 3 laps
Passengers allowed

Skid Pan:
Gymkhana challenge
No passengers allowed (drivers only)
Every driver needs to wear a helmet (supplied by HD)

Raffle items:
A variety of raffle items from hot lap vouchers to hampers to fishing gear

Finish it off with a good old fashioned sausage sizzle :)

See you on the day to support this great cause!

 

Message Contents

 

Date confirmed for Young Driver Programme
18/08/2011

YOUNG drivers once again have the opportunity to take their driving skills to the next level by taking part in Formula Challenges driver improvement programme.

The Express programme will be run at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on October 20^th 2011 and will provide drivers with much more that a normal driving lesson. The programme provides young drivers with a chance to learn important skills such as emergency braking, pre-drive checks and skid recognition and correction.

Under the guidance of a fully-trained consultants, the three-hour programme will give drivers a chance to develop their skills in their own car in the safety of a private, purposed built. The aim is to enable drivers of all abilities to understand better their vehicle’s capabilities so they can respond more effectively to a potential emergency situation.

Tuition begins with a theory session, providing drivers the opportunity to learn more about their vehicles and to gain an understanding of vehicle stability systems and driver aids, such as Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and how these work to supplement the driver’s own skills.

For the practical part of the programme, participants will take their vehicles on to the track for expert instruction on how to cope with changing levels of grip, as well as undertaking brake and avoidance exercises. or 0273 67 68 52.

For more information about joining the programme at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in North Waikato on Thursday, October 20^th 2011, please contact Elton Goonan via email at elton@fcr.co.nz

Hawke’s Bay rally to define NZ champions

2011 New Zealand Rally Championship Calendar

Training days test owners' mettle

Lotus is looking at driver-training days at tracks such as Hampton Downs once it sets up shop in New Zealand.

Its track days in the United Kingdom lure stars such as British rock legend Roger Daltrey, who is passionate about go-fast cars.

The lead singer of The Who is a regular at the Lotus test circuit and was on hand when the company hosted an international press event for the Evora S, the Evora GT4 race car and the T125, the Formula One-inspired car that Lotus is offering in its Exos Experience.

The Lotus Driving Academy offers a range of courses using its own British track and the Hungarian Formula One circuit.

"We are looking at using tracks in Australia and New Zealand for the academy," said Edward Rowe, PR chief for Ateco Automotive, Lotus' new distributor Downunder.

"They are an excellent sales tool for both bringing customers to the brand and demonstrating what the cars are capable of in a safe and controlled environment. Likewise for owners, track days enable them to explore the capabilities of their cars."

Ateco Automotive is a multi-franchise distributor headed by expat Kiwi businessman and yachtsman Neville Crichton. Aside from Lotus, it imports Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, and China's Great Wall and Chery vehicles into Australia and New Zealand.

The Lotus 125 is an exclusive race car complete with a Cosworth 3.5-litre V8 engine producing 480kW and linked to a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox with paddle shift. The Exos Experience is an elite club in which Lotus 125 owner-drivers can challenge themselves with Formula One-like technology combined with one-to-one advice from former Grand Prix drivers and trainers.

The Lotus 125 cars cost $1.25 million each.

For this article and more click here or go to www.nzherald.co.nz

SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA AUGURS WELL FOR COMING KIWI DRIFT SEASON

Photo credit: Fast Company/Roo Wills

2011/12 D1NZ National Drifting Championship

Prepared by FAST COMPANY of behalf of D1NZ.

Kiwi Connection Brings Europeans to Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour

The New Zealand connection looks set to return to the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour bigger and better than ever next year – and they could bring friends from even further afield.

Hampton Downs-based Motorsport Services team owner Dave Taylor has confirmed his team will return to the Mountain with at least three cars – with the potential of more to follow from as far away as Slovakia.

Slovak driver Miro Konopka drove a Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Car for the team in this years’ race and was so impressed by the experience that he is currently working on bringing two cars over from his home country for the race.

Driving with Kiwi’s Simon McLennan and Scott O’Donnell, Konopka’s car completed 264 laps and finished an outstanding 7th outright this year – scoring second in class B. Motorsport Services’ second Porsche finished just behind in eighth position, whilst their BMW 130i entered in the Production Car ranks finished 14th and second in class.

Taylor says his team was ready to return to the mountain next year with two GT cars and a new Production racer.

“I’ve got a waiting list of 10-15 guys who all want to drive,” he said.

“We will be back with at least three cars, a 135i BMW, one of our existing 996 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars and a 997 GT3 Cup Car as well.

“Miro (Konopka) is working on bringing two cars down from Slovakia and we would assist them running them – they would be a 997 GT3 Cup Porsche and potentially a Dodge Viper.

“A lot of the drivers from this year’s race are already locked in and ready to come back so we’ll have guys with at least one race under their belts, which will be a big help. We’re excited about coming back over for what should be an even bigger Event next year.”

It turns out that the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour is big in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

The Slovak input in the 2011 race saw surprising interest from the nation, Konopka’s media representative attending the race and filing regular reports to their home media. Meanwhile, the online streaming coverage of the race recorded hundreds of hits from people watching their drivers’ progress from afar.

“It’s surprising, but it seems like the place to be,” Taylor said.

“I was there recently and it’s a big motorsport hub. It’s not far from Brno (Czech Republic) and from the Hugaroring so it’s very energised there. They love motorsport.”

Taylor said the expanded eligibility list for the 2012 race was making it easier for overseas teams to enter the race.

“It’s not been as much a benefit for us here (New Zealand) because, like Australia, we tend to run our own rules and regulations, but for those teams coming from Europe it will make it much easier to bring cars down,” he explained.

“It will be huge for the Event to be opened up like that.”

The 2012 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour will be contested on February 24-26, 2012 and will feature an action-packed program including four strong support categories; Sports Sedans, Saloon Cars, Formula Ford and Improved Production.

For more information head to the all new website – www.bathurst12hour.com.au

For the original article please click here

Fans support V8SuperTourers at CRC Speedshow

As part of the upcoming VIP Petfoods 12 hour race, a shorter 3 hour race and a 6 hour endurance race are to be run within the 12 hour race format. Entries are now being taken for the shorter races which will be contested at Hampton Downs on the 13th of August.

These shorter endurance races will cater for competitors who feel that the full 12 hours is too long for them or their machinery. The Dynatron 3 hour and Racetech 6 hour races have a minimum of only two drivers and there will be trophies awarded for these two category winners.

Highlights of the race will be televised on TV1 as well as Sky TV in a one hour time slot.

Key competitors registered so far include Tony Quinn who will head up the Australian contingent in his Porsche 997 RSR (pictured) and is rumoured to have Craig Baird on the team.

Other cars entered or expressing strong interest include: Ford Focus V8, Honda Civic R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1/Evo 9, Porsche GT3 & 944, Ferrari F430, Radical 10, Saker SVIR, and VW.

This isn’t a race just for the pros, so if you think you and your track car are up for it, then go to www.endurance.org.nz get the relevant info and fill in the forms to get yourself sorted. Now with 3 hour and 6 hour races included its a good chance to try your hand at endurance racing and get coverage for sponsors. But you better be in quick, entries are closing very soon. The expected TV audience could be over 200,000. Entry fees for the racing start from $550 and there are special deals on fuel and tyre changing equipment. Garages are included in the entry fee and are allocated by Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. To find out more go to www.endurance.org.nz.

Click here to view original article from NZV8.

For more articles head to www.v8.co.nz

The cars are the stars at 2012 NZFMR
 
The 2012 New Zealand Festival of Motor Racing dates have been confirmed for January 20-22 and January 27-29 2012 at the superb Hampton Downs circuit and the third edition of the hugely popular event will celebrate a car maker for the first time.

The 2010 and 2011 New Zealand Festivals of Motor Racing celebrating Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon respectively caught the attention of the domestic New Zealand motoring and motor racing communities and proved to be the biggest motor sport events in the country in those years after the Hamilton V8 Supercar event. For 2012 the festival organisers have decided to focus the spotlight on German manufacturer BMW, one of the great motoring brands in New Zealand and the world.
The event – the NZFMR celebrating BMW Motorsport - will feature some amazing cars from BMW’s racing history, many of which have raced in New Zealand. Legendary BMW racers Jim Richards and Prince Leopold von Bayern of Bavaria are already confirmed and more big names are set to join in the action.
A feature class will be the ‘Group A and Invited Touring Car Challenge’ where classic BMW 635CSi and BMW M3s of the 1980s will once again battle other Touring cars including Ford Sierra Cosworth, Jaguar XJS, Holden Commodore, Rover SD1, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Corona cars. Many of these cars raced in the Nissan-Mobil 500 series at Wellington and Pukekohe in the 1980s and 1990s.
With its stellar racing history in New Zealand, BMW was always the preferred theme for the third festival, as Festival Chairman Jim Barclay explained. “In common with other major motorsport festivals like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival held in UK, we have an annual theme and as we want to celebrate cars and marques that have made an impact domestically and internationally as well as drivers, what better place to start than BMW – which has a rich history in motorsport. “The brand also has a long and successful history in New Zealand not only as a car that many aspire to but as a highly effective racing machine that many of the greatest racing drivers have sampled. For us, choosing BMW as the subject for the third festival was an easy call, and it’s great to be able to confirm that we have the full support of BMW in New Zealand and Germany as we work to make this the best New Zealand Festival of Mo tor Racing to date. Those weekends in January at Hampton Downs will be unmissable.”

Kiwi F5000s roar into the UK

Young gun Michael Lyons (Lola T400) was unchallenged in winning both MSC F5000 category races at the Classic Sports Car Club's classic race meeting at Oulton Park in the UK recently, starting each from pole and setting the fastest race lap on the way to the chequered flag. 

 
In the first, fellow front-row starter Neil Glover (Lola T330/332) and Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) disputed second position with the nod going to Glover as Thornton struggled through the latter stages with gear selection problems, while in the second, young Auckland driver Andrew Higgins (Lola T400) stormed home to claim second from Lyon's Jnr's father Frank (Gurney Eagle) and Blenheim's Russell Greer (Lola T332).
 
Higgins and Greer wer e two drivers of a seven-strong group of MSC New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series drivers contesting two meetings in the UK this Northern Hemisphere summer, with the group enjoying mixed results at the Classic Sports Car Club's annual Oulton Park International circuit meeting.  Christchurch driver David Abbott (Lola T430) was a non-starter, having damaged his car in practice on Friday, while Aucklander Peter Burson (McRae GM1) fell foul of the strict noise regulations in force at the Cheshire circuit.
 
Andrew Higgins was the best of the Kiwi contingent in qualifying but was forced out of the first race with what turned out to be contaminated fuel. Russell Greer, who qualified eighth, was also forced out of that race, in his case by gear selection problems. Both drivers were able to address the issues between the two MSC series races, however, and go on to card their top four finishes in the second race.  Compatriots Stan Redmond and War wick Mortimer, however,  were not so lucky, Redmond pitting early in the second race on the mistaken belief that a black flag was for him, then crashing heavily once he was back out on the track, and Mortimer - who in the first race had impressed in his older Class A car in a three-way scrap for eighth place with Aaron Burson and Frank Lyons - tangling with local driver Mike Sidgwick.
 
The  New Zealanders now head south to the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent (near London) for the Derek Bell Trophy races at the Historic Sports Car Club's annual Superprix meeting.

CSL set to star

One of the many iconic cars set to grace the two weekends of the 2012 NZFMR Celebrating BMW Motorsport as a static display is one of the brand's most prized historic racing cars - the works 3.0 litre CSL 'Batmobile' that was driven by legendary Kiwi Chris Amon.
This version of the iconic racer was homologated in July 1973 along with an aerodynamic package including a large air dam, short fins running along the front fenders, a spoiler above and behind the trailing edge of the roof, and a tall rear wing.
Interestingly, the rear wings were not installed at the factory, but were left in the boot for installation after purchase. This was done because the wings were illegal for use on German roads. The full aero package earned the racing CSLs the nickname "Batmobile".
 
Kiwi legend Chris Amon partnered Hans Stuck to win the Nürburgring  6 Hours Race in 1973 with the CSL while Toine Hezemans won the European Touring Car Championship in a 3.0CSL and co-drove a 3.0CSL with Dieter Quester to a class victory at Le Mans. Works drivers Hezemans and Quester had driven to second place at the 1973 German Touring Car Grand Prix at Nürburgring, beaten only by Amon and Stuck.

The Important dates

Lock them in your diary now and don't miss out on what has been the biggest motorsports event outside of the Hamilton V8s in New Zealand during 2012. Hampton Downs race track - January 20 - 22 and January 27 - 29. Can you afford to miss it? For more information head to www.nzfmr.co.nz

Welcome to the new newsletter

Welcome to the new look NZFMR newsletter. As we build towards the very exciting 2012 events, we will be bringing you news on confirmed cars and drivers, details about the event and special offers as we get close to the two big weekends. So keep reading and make sure you pass it on to any historic racing car owner, or BMW enthusiasts that you might know.

Von Bayern confirmed

Royal racer Prince Leopold von Bayern - one of the top works drivers in the 1980s BMW touring car programme - will be on hand at the NZFMR Celebrating BMW Motorsport.

An esteemed and Royal guest, the Prince is an infectious enthusiast of all things BMW and will also be demonstrating some of the key cars around the Hampton Downs track. Prince Leopold is scheduled to make his appeareance during the second weekend of the Festival between January 27-29.

And Richards too

Closer to home, New Zealand and Australia BMW racing legend Jim Richards has confirmed he will be at the event over the weekend of January 20-22.

Another BMW and touring car living legend, Richards plans to race as well as demonstrate some of the famous cars he drove.

Big fields expected across the entry

It’s not just the BMW and F5000 classes that will be big draw cards. In the past two years, around 150 drivers and classic racing cars from other countries have come to New Zealand and Hampton Downs to race and be part of the event.

With the theme BMW Motorsport for 2012, and BMW's still incredibly popular racers  both in this country and abroad, it could be the biggest of the three Festival events to date.

July Newsletter

On Sunday was the The ClubSport Challenge which replaced the old DOMAIN HILL CLIMB. A great day was had by all, with 3 sprints around various parts of the track - two bent sprints and one quarter mile straight sprint, plus there were also a gymkhana courses on the new skid pan. Whew! Congratulations to the winners on the day!

Photo credit: Sandi Cooper Sullivan

 Round One of the Winter Series has put Roger Conder, Rick Martin, Linda Grey, Kenny Smith and Don Cates on the leader board. We look forward to round two of the series on Sunday 17 July at Pukekohe, then round three and four are back at Hampton Downs.

The first of the Gymkhana series on the 25^th June was excellent with 30 cars lining up to see what they could do on the new skid pan and compete for the top time!  STM said:

“Recently made famous by Ken Block, Gymkhana is growing in popularity around the world but the truth is Gymkhana has been around for years, often performed by local car clubs in paddocks or empty car parks.  We (STM) would like to see more gymkhana events throughout the country, it’s a great way to get involved in motorsport without a massive outlay.  You can compete and be competitive with a street car and entry fees won’t break the bank. The STM x Playday event is designed to improve your driving skills in a safe, fun and relaxed environment. Carl Ruiterman came along in a near stock standard (less than 200kw atw) AWD Subaru Impreza STi, to demonstrate it’s not what you are driving rather how you are driving it”. 

Cost: $30 for 5 timed runs (Free extra untimed runs at end if time allows). Pay on the day. The next date is Saturday 30^th July 2011.

The south island co-operative CRT has just been appointed the distributor for Gulf oil in New Zealand. The Gulf Oil company has been a long history in motorsport, previously sponsoring our own Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and having Eion Young as its first PR manager. Their branding of pale blue and orange has become iconic on Ford GT40s and Porsche 917 (the car featured in the film Le Mans).  To launch Gulf, CRT held a function at Hampton Downs displaying a Ford GT40 replica, McLaren Can-Am MA8 and BMW M3. Eoin Young was in attendance to make the event even more special, while Michael Clark did his usual fine job as MC.

There was an excellent article in the New Zealand Herald by By David Linklater called “The right man (and car) for the job”. The article was about Mike Eady and the BMW driver experience. If you missed it read it online – www.nzherald.co.nz and search for the title.

SsangYong have very kindly assisted in the upgrade of Tony Roberts’s vehicle at Hampton Downs. His old Kyron had clocked up 186,000 kms in only four years, but never missed a beat on some arduous tasks around the building of Hampton Downs circuit. His new vehicle is one of the first AWD Korando 2 lt diesels on New Zealand’s roads. Sincere thanks to SsangYong’s Russell Burling, Deon and Rick Cooper for their ongoing support.

You will notice that the front straight concrete barriers are being considerably enhanced with the colourful edition of signage! Foster Construction, Atlas International, Waikato District Council, Porter Hire, WEL Energy, Classic Cover, Blacktop Roading and EnviroWaste all have signage down the front straight.

Coming on board in the next few weeks are BMW, Metalman, FreemanX and Nissan, so watch this space!

We have a tropical feel at Hampton Downs with the introduction of Phoenix Palm trees! Thank you Warwick Mortimer for donating them and Calven Bonney for transporting them (no mean feat!)– there are also more to come!

Lloyd and Glenda continue to be the backbone of the Hampton Downs Garden Club planting many trees. If you would like to join contact Chris Watson on 027 482 7542.

Ken Coskery has donated oak trees seeded from the original Olympic oak tree presented to Jack Lovelock 1936 for winning the 1500 metre race. The Lovelock Oak stands in Timaru Boys High School. It was planted 75 years ago with the ‘Olympic Oak’ seedling that Jack Lovelock received with his gold medal presentation at the 1936 Berlin Games. Adolf Hitler gifted the Black Forest Oak seedlings to gold medal winners, with the intention of creating monuments to the Olympic spirit in the athlete’s home country. To have the offspring of the original ‘Olympic Oak’ planted at Hampton Downs is a fantastic connection to one of New Zealand’s greatest athletes.  Imagine how fast he would have been with an engine!

We would also like to announce that Jamie Kett has moved into a new role at Hampton Downs. He is now focussing on Major Events, Corporate Partnerships and Government relationships.

Kett says “I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges through the start up, construction and eventually operational phases of the project and equally I am hugely motivated/excited by my new challenges and looking forward to ditching the full time office!”. For enquiries please contact him on jamiekett@xtra.co.nz or call 027 443 0800.

Red Nose Day

Be silly for a serious cause with Cure Kids Red Nose Day, on Friday 15 July. Hampton Downs are proud to support Cure Kids, who are raising money through Red Nose Day to support vital medical research into all life-threatening illnesses that affect young Kiwi lives. Red Nose Day is a fun national campaign that celebrates our communities, embraces the light-hearted Kiwi culture, and supports children across New Zealand.  Check out www.curekids.org.nz/rednoseday for more information, and make sure you get involved!

Fire up your vintage car on 30^th July 2011! This is a great opportunity to get your vintage car out again, and also a chance for those who have not tried the track to have a go. There will be ½ hour open sessions for the Vintage cars (pre-1960 cars only) and HRSCC. There will be a session at lunchtime for drivers under instruction; e.g. those on learner licences. There will be a break at lunchtime to discuss the next Roycroft Trophy Meeting which will be held on the 14^th and 15^th of April 2012. For more information contact Brendan on 021 132 4557

The Motorsport Open day is fast approaching (31 July) – this is an easy and inexpensive introduction to motorsport. We have split the day into 3 session: Session One: 9am-11am - Drive around the circuit in your own car at a comfortable pace (under 100km/h) behind the safety car. $20 per car. Session Two: 11am-2pm - Drive around the circuit at a faster pace in small groups. Drivers will have to wear helmets and overalls (which are available for hire). $30 per car. Session Three: 2pm-5pm - Experience the track in a race car with an experienced race car driver for $40. Proceeds go to the Brain Injury Trust.

We currently need some drivers to donate themselves and their cars for the afternoon to give marshals/volunteers and charity hot laps around the circuit. For more information contact Melissa Morgan at melissa@grandprix.org.nz or Chris Watson at chris@grandprix.org.nz/ 09 520 7841

Entries are coming in fast for the VIP Petfoods 12 Hour Endurance Series on 13^th August,  with an exciting line up of cars including Tony Quinn's Porsche 997 GT3 RSR. For more information visit www.endurance.org.nzfor full event information and entry details or contact Alan Barnes at info@endurance.org.nz or 0274433407.

Upcoming Public Open Days are 12^th August and 23 September. Pre book on the website www.hdticketing.co.nz to get a $15 discount! Track hack has also got an event on Sunday 24 July. For more details head to www.trackhack.co.nz or email James@trackhack.co.nz

The Hampton’s café (in the pavillion) is open every event day with croissants, filled rolls, slices, pies and barista COFFEE!

 See below for more upcoming events!

Last but not least there is a Hampton Downs stand at the CRC SPEED SHOW – come and visit us at the ASB show grounds and go in to win prizes. Also look out for the V8 Supertourers! Put the 23^rd and 24^th July into your diary.

Follow us on facebook too – simply search Hampton Downs!

The wings and slicks Toyota Racing Series (TRS) is a tried and tested race package with a growing international reputation as a great way to spend a European winter in the sun.

More international drivers are heading to the Southern Hemisphere to get extra race miles under their respective belts and experience fierce competition from local drivers.

Last season, race fans were able to watch Russian, Australian, Japanese and German drivers mix it with the Kiwi lads.

Since the series, devised by Barrie Thomlinson and Steve Boyce, was introduced in 2005 it has grown from strength to strength.

The TRS championship has been the launch pad for locals such as Shane van Gisbergen, Brendon Hartley, Richie Stanaway, Andy Knight, Daniel Gaunt and Mitch Evans who is now under the watchful eye of Formula One driver Mark Webber contesting the GP3 series in Europe.

Over the years, the New Zealand series has gained traction in Europe and category manager Thomlinson has been the leading light in getting young up-and-coming overseas drivers to come Downunder in their off season and get quality race miles under their belts.

"We believe the 2012 Toyota Series will provide an exceptionally good opportunity for our young Kiwi drivers to compete against some of the best young European professionals who will come to New Zealand to gain track time and experience," said Thomlinson.

The TRS is the first FIA international race event on the calendar in 2012 and some would say the most concentrated single-seater championship in the world. This year sees a major change in that the five rounds will be run back-to-back over consecutive weekends.

"This concentrated schedule is a first for TRS and comes in response to requests from European drivers and teams who are looking for racing away from the Northern Hemisphere winter months.

"This format also assists in containing the budgets for our local drivers. Just as drivers did in the days of the Tasman Series, a short sharp season with plenty of testing and racing should fill the grid well," said Thomlinson.

The tight schedule means just four weeks cover the opening round at Teretonga in Invercargill between January 12-15 and the finale, the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild near Palmerston North, between February 9-12.

En route to the Grand Prix meeting, the Toyota Series will visit Invercargill, Timaru, Taupo and the new circuit at Hampton Downs, south of Auckland.

Australasian and International drivers will face 15 races within a month and, with the additional allocated testing and qualifying on track, they will cover at least 2500km of competitive running.

The Toyota Racing season will last just 32 days and the TRS cars will be either testing or racing on one of the five circuits for 20 of those days.

The success drivers from the 2011 season have had also boosted the international reputation of the TRS. "Mitch Evans, who won the TRS title for the last two seasons, is leading the competitive GP3 Championship, Englishman Alex Lynn is dominating the British 2.0-litre Renault series and young Russian driver Daniil Kvyat is third in the European Renault series.

"These drivers and others like Brazilian Lucas Foresti and Kiwi Richie Stanaway are showing the benefit of an intensive racing season in New Zealand in preparation for the start of testing for European championships in March," said Thomlinson.

The schedule January 12-15, Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Spirit of a Nation Cup

Round 1:

Round 2: January 19-22, Timaru Raceway, Timaru
Timaru Herald Trophy

Round 3: January 26-29, Taupo Motorsport Park
Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy

Round 4: February 2-5, Hampton Downs, Auckland
New Zealand Motor Cup

Round 5: February 9-12, Manfeild, Feilding
New Zealand Grand Prix
(Dan Higgins Trophy and Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup)

For this article and more motorsport articles by the New Zealand Herald please click here

New Driving Programme Launched For Young Drivers

YOUNG drivers have the opportunity to take their driving skills to the next level following the launch of a new driver improvement programme by Formula Challenge.

Youth Express has been introduced at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and Taupo Motorsport Park and is much more than just a normal driving lesson. The programme will provide young drivers with a chance to learn important skills such as emergency braking, pre-drive checks and skid recognition and correction.

Under the guidance of a fully-trained instructor, the three-hour programme will give drivers a chance to develop their skills in their own car in the safety of a private, purposed built venue and with the course already 50% booked, places are filling fast.

The three-hour programme is designed for all levels of driving experience but this specific course is for younger drivers only. It aims to enable drivers of all abilities to help them understand better their vehicle’s capabilities so they can respond more effectively to a potential emergency situation.

Tuition begins with a theory session, providing drivers the opportunity to learn more about their vehicles and to gain an understanding of vehicle stability systems and driver aids, such as Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and how these work to supplement the driver’s own skills.

For the practical part of the programme, participants will take their vehicles on to the track for expert instruction on how to cope with changing levels of grip, as well as undertaking brake and avoidance exercises.

The next programme is scheduled to take place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in North Waikato on Monday, July 25^th 2011. The Express programme costs $333.50 per person, and can be booked by contacting Elton Goonan via elton@fcr.co.nz.

If you want to sort out your sliding skills and are looking for a spot to do it, then Hampton Downs this Saturday (9 July) is where you’ll want to be.

The team from Garage H have teamed up with Play Day On Track to offer local drifters the chance to get out on the track and practice some lock-to-lock action. These are rather laid-back events with plenty of track time with similar-skilled people, so you won’t be run over by a pro or held up by a learner, depending on your skill set. There are three groups of cars, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced with a maximum of twenty cars per group. The day runs from 9am – 4:30 pm so there’s loads of time to pull some skids.

Entering a car is $160 which includes driver and two pit crew. Spectators are $10 at the gate.

To find out more search ‘Garage H’ on Facebook or email theresadrift@playdayontrack.co.nz

Click here to view original article from NZV8.

For more articles head to www.performancecar.co.nz

Colin Corkery takes seat in V8 SuperTourer series

June 30th, 2011 by NZV8

Colin Corkery is the latest in a long string of drivers to announce their intentions to compete in New Zealand’s newest race series, the V8SuperTourers.

Corkery will join the Penrose-based Racing Projects Team of Nigel Barclay. He will campaign a Falcon alongside Kayne Scott who will be driving a Holden. The new series gets underway at Hampton Downs over the weekend of 17 to 19 February next year.

Like the V8SuperTourer competitors confirmed to date, Corkery is an experienced V8 touring car driver. After a successful karting career he raced in both the NZV8 Development Series and NZV8s before crossing the Tasman to spend two years in the Australian V8 Ute Series. During that time the Kiwi scored several podium finishes including a race win at the Winton Motor Raceway in 2008. In 2009 Corkery competed in the Australian V8 Supercar Development Series. His last major New Zealand appearance came more than 12 months ago when he was a leading contender in the NZV8 Ute trans-Tasman test match on the streets of Hamilton.

Since that time Corkery has had a year away from the sport and is currently based in the United States. However the advent of the V8SuperTourer series has the 26-year-old keen to return home to resume his career. “I haven’t driven the new car yet but I think it is something that was needed in New Zealand. I would not have committed to return without something like this being introduced.”

Seven rounds are scheduled, including the series debut at Hampton Downs in February, with a mixture of sprint and endurance races before the series concludes in October 2012. “The dates appeal to me and I am excited about the format of the series and the races,” says Corkery.

A prototype V8SuperTourer has already undergone extensive testing at the hands of Corkery’s team-mate Kayne Scott and others on the Hampton Downs circuit. The new cars are four-door touring cars built on a control race chassis powered by an all-alloy, 7-litre, fuel-injected engine which produces 550 horsepower. The cars feature a 6-speed sequential gearbox.

Other drivers that have already joined the new series include V8 Supercar star Greg Murphy, multiple NZV8 champions Kayne Scott, John McIntyre and Andy Booth plus other former NZV8 champions such as Craig Baird and Paul Manuell. There are also several up-and-coming younger drivers expected to get on board.

Click here to view original article from NZV8.

For more articles head to www.v8.co.nz

BMW 1M: Rear-drive hooligan

The smallest BMW M-car to date doesn't rely on stupid amounts of power and a massive engine to succeed, but on a flexible chassis and a power-to-weight equation that could see this car trounce the M3 over a tight track or tricky set of bends.

What's new
The 1M fields 1470kg to the M3's 1800kg, and a 3.0-litre straight six engine with twin equal-size exhaust turbos that produces 250kW and 450Nm of torque, or 500Nm at full throttle, sent to the rear wheels all the way from 1500 to 4500rpm.

That's a spread so wide that at Hampton Downs we could leave it in third or fourth of the six cogs for most of our fast laps, controlling it on the throttle and relying on this car's communicative chassis and instant response.

The 1M uses chassis components from the M3 with a double joint front axle and five link rear plus a variable M diff lock on the rear axle, and a high performance brake system.

Flared wheel arches emphasise the broader track - the car is 55mm wider than a 135i coupe - with a redesigned front apron and large air inlets, four tailpipes and chrome gills. The cabin is changed little from the standard car.

The company line
BMW's keen to underline the 1M's sporting focus and the brand's sporting heritage, hence the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL racer parked beside it at Hampton Downs.

What we say
The 1M's relatively subtle looks mirror BMW's restrained approach. It avoided suspension trickery; bar the M-button to sharpen engine response and the ability to pin back the stability control. What you see is what you get; a simple approach that suits real world applications where fiddling with diffs is a tad OTT.

On the road
At the Hampton Downs track we tapped the M button, knocked back the stability control to let the back step out slightly and let her rip.
And boy, when the turbos spool up the power arrives with a massive punch, more suddenly than in a naturally aspirated car so you need good driving technique and delicate throttle control to keep the car steady through bends.

Fortunately it's sublimely responsive to your right foot; twitching that pedal round the hairpin with its brief off-camber drop tells you a lot about this car and its controllability.

Yet slap the accelerator down and it's as unsubtle as anyone could wish, bar a soundtrack less raucous than expected. However, I loved the sub-base throaty growl this engine emits on song that tells you this is no ordinary car.

This 1M's ride-handling compromise is particularly impressive. Yes it's a sports-focused set-up, yet bump compliance felt remarkably elastic in a way few performance cars can mange. I look forward to driving it in the real world and seeing just how well it translates.

Why you'll buy one
It's a rear-drive BMW hooligan for $109,000 when the M3 costs $173,700.

Why you won't
NZ's allocation of 14 sells before you make a decision.

By Jacqui Madelin

For this article and more go to the New Zealand Herald website or click here

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park has just announced the sale of twenty Turn One Industrial Units, to be built at the racing venue.

Racing teams and enthusiasts can store up to 4 cars in the units and with a 5m stud there is room to fit a hoist. The units are sized at 10 x 7 metres and there is a half mezzanine floor (15m2) which can be used as an office/accommodation area. There is also a bathroom with shower and toilet, kitchen facilities and a balcony with views of the track. A private road runs directly from the units to the pits and there is separate entry for each unit.

The Turn One Industrial Units can begin construction almost immediately with the granting of building consent. They’re priced at $275,000 plus GST each, with a deposit of $10,000 to secure your spot.

Sounds like a dream come true for most kiwi race fans, if you have the means and you’re interested email tony@hamptondowns.com

For more great articles go to www.nzv8.co.nz

Kayne Scott latest driver to join V8SuperTourer series

June 21st, 2011 by NZV8

New Zealand V8 race driver Kayne Scott has officially committed to the new V8SuperTourer race series which will begin in February next year. ‘

Scott, from Hamilton, and the Racing Projects team of Nigel Barclay, based in Penrose, Auckland, will join in a VE Holden Commodore. He joins a growing list of Kiwi racing talent in the new series that now includes Greg Murphy, John McIntyre, Paul Manuell and Andy Booth. The inclusion of these top level drivers has allowed the V8SuperTourer Series organisers to label it the ‘V8 Series Of Champions’.

The new cars will be four door touring cars built on a control race chassis powered by an all-alloy, 7-litre fuel injected engine producing 550 horsepower. The cars will feature a 6-speed sequential gearbox.

Scott had a chance to drive the series prototype at Hampton Downs last month and is excited at its potential. “While I haven’t had much time at the wheel of the new car it is an exciting prospect. The finish of the car is superb and, from a brief taste in the wet at Hampton Downs recently, I am looking forward to getting to grips with a machine that compares favourably to a V8 Supercar.”

Racing Projects manager Nigel Barclay is equally enthusiastic. “They are pretty cool cars. They look good, sound good and look as though they will be nice to work on. I’m looking forward to getting up and running.”

Scott won NZV8 titles in the 2005/06 and 2008/09 seasons and was close to securing a third title last season only to be cruelly robbed after a minute engine discrepancy was discovered prior to the final round. In addition he is a five-time New Zealand TraNZam Champion and has raced V8 Supercars in Australia and Transam saloons in the United States.

The V8SuperTourer Series will kick off at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park midway between Auckland and Hamilton over the weekend of 17-19 February next year. Seven rounds are scheduled with the final due to be held in October 2012.

Click here to view original article from NZV8.

For more articles head to www.v8.co.nz

The right man (and car) for the job

By Eric Thompson

If you have to be on opposite lock all the way through Turn 9 at the Hampton Downs circuit, rain plummeting down so hard you can hardly see what's out the side windows, Mike Eady is the man to be driving.

After all, this guy wrote the book on New Zealand motor racing circuits. Quite literally: he's the author of The Tracktime New Zealand Racetrack Manual', which shows the best lines around every circuit in the country.

Aside from being a published expert and totally sweet on the best way to drift through that long, long right-hander that leads up the hill towards the start-finish straight at Hampton Downs, Eady is a successful racing driver and one of only 10 accredited senior BMW driving instructors in the world.

So he's got the skills and he's also used to assuming the PR role of gentleman racer for meet-the-people events like this.

We've come out at the invitation of BMW New Zealand to drive some M-cars, meet Eady and enjoy a few laps in his M3 race car. He won the North Island Endurance Series in it last year and has returned this year.

Impressive, although the thing that really grabs my attention as time goes into slow-motion through Turn 9 is the familiar BMW iDrive display screen in the centre console, which is warning us that the parking distance radar is not operational.

Power from the 4-litre V8 is up by only 19kW to 328kW and the racer rides 20mm lower than the street model. It's fitted with racing brake pads and modified brake lines, competition fuel tank and the essentials like roll cage, Racetec seats and lightweight 18-inch wheels.

It has a motorsport differential and retains anti-lock braking - a big advantage in the wet, even for a racing driver says Eady - although the software is calibrated for racing rather than road use.

Last year was the first time this generation of M3 had been raced in New Zealand. Between seasons the car shed 150kg through fitment of BMW Motorsport lightweight parts, including doors and the bootlid.

"We're racing in the open class so we can do what we want," says Eady. "If we increased power another 50bhp [37kW], took another 100kg out of the car and played around with the suspension a bit more, we'd gain two seconds per lap, just like that.

"But long-distance racing is about reliability. We'll be a couple of seconds a lap slower than the top cars, but we'll pick up time on stops and we have an advantage in the wet with the anti-lock braking."

I ask Eady to stand between the M3 road car in which we drove to Hampton Downs and his racing car. A true professional: cap on, assumes the pose, race-face.

I point to the two cars. So I could easily turn that blue one [the road M3] into that white one [the racing car]? "You could put my seat and a roll cage in the road car, go out and do bloody well," says Eady.

I assume he means himself, rather than me. But point taken.

As it turned out, Eady might well have done better in the blue car on May 14. He and co-driver John McIntyre started well in the Pukekohe round of the North Island Endurance Series, but had to drop out when a rear shock absorber failed.

Eady is out again this weekend on the next round of the championship at Taupo. He won't have driven there from Auckland in the M3, but it's cool to know that he could.

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more by Eric Thompson or the NZ Herald click here

Super tour for V8 teen

8 June 2011

By Eric Thompson

Once upon a time, manhandling the big V8 taxis around a race track was the bastion of gnarly middle-aged men with forearms the size of tree stumps.

The past few years have seen a sea change in the type of drivers who are gravitating towards the big banners as technology and chassis development have made the tin tops more driveable.

It is also becoming obvious that it is a much more cost-efficient way of getting into top-tier racing and making a living out of racing cars.

The V8s are becoming more and more popular and younger and younger drivers are seeing them as a way to go racing full time. The youngest, by far, to decide V8 racing is the way to go is 15-year-old Andre Heimgartner.

He is New Zealand's youngest national motorsport champion and is hoping to make his touring car debut in the new V8 SuperTourer series that has recently been announced.

Although the prototype of the SuperTourer has been put through its paces recently, Aucklander Heimgartner is pencilled in to drive a second Holden Commodore VE II skinned V8 SuperTourer for the AV8 Motorsport team as teammate to the two-time NZV8 champion Andy Booth.

The step up from a 115 horsepower open-wheel race car to a full-blown 600hp, 7-litre monster will be a big challenge for the youngster.

"To be honest, this is quite unreal. A dream come true much sooner than I could have imagined," said Heimgartner.

"To be able to advance my career like this and have the opportunity to learn from and test myself against some of the best drivers in Australasia is something I had to jump at.

"I'm so thankful for this chance I've been given by AV8 and my supporters; I hope to be able to repay their confidence with my performance on track.

"I haven't driven a V8 race car before, but my dad's got one of the fastest TransAms in the country so I'm going to be testing in that quite a lot," Heimgartner said.

"Hopefully I'll be able to try the SuperTourer at the next test day, we're waiting for a fine day as the last two tests have been in the wet."

Heimgartner has put his toe in the tin-top waters in the past, most recently at the Altherm 1000 three-hour endurance at Hampton Downs where he and co-driver Stefan Webling were running second behind the experienced pairing of Andrew Bagnell and Ant Pedersen, the eventual winners.

"The two of them were doing really well and lying in second place until the clutch blew, ending their race," said Heimgartner's father, Mark.

"Seeing how well he did in the Porsche certainly helped us make the decision to get Andre involved in tin tops. But in all fairness, one of the bigger reasons to get involved in the tin-top pathway to a professional drive is cost.

"Any drive in open-wheel racing in Europe costs anything from three quarters of a million to one and half. And that's just to get a drive, even if you're good enough. It's much the same in the States as well.

"The situation today is that young single-seater drivers - even if they are very passionate about single-seater driving - is that if they want to make a career out of it, pragmatically and more realistically an affordable route would be through tin tops."

A big plus for Heimgartner is the team he's joining.

He has the opportunity to work alongside and be mentored by his very experienced teammate, Booth.

The double NZV8 champion and former NZ Grand Prix winner is also a co-owner of the AV8 Motorsport team and was instrumental in the decision to offer the young champion this opportunity.

"I'm really looking forward to working with Andre and doing what I can to help his career path in motorsport," said Booth.

"We've talked for several years about wanting to run a young up-and-coming driver in a development role alongside me, and in Andre I feel we've found that guy. He's got obvious talent and is driven to succeed. Hopefully I can help develop his driving and assist him with the more commercial aspects of the sport as well."

AV8 Motorsport team principle Wayne Anderson is equally enthused about bringing Heimgartner on-board in the second car.

"It's great to be able to make this announcement so early. For AV8 to be able to offer this opportunity to Andre is a big boost for both sides, the sport gets to help one of its young stars hopefully on his way to bigger things and Andre can test himself against and learn from the most experienced touring car drivers in the country.

"Now he needs to make the most of that." The new V8 SuperTourer Series will take place over seven rounds from February to October 2012, starting at Hampton Downs.

By Eric Thompson

For this article and more by Eric Thompson and the NZ Herald click here

Late deal provides Kiwi series drive

A new Black Beauty is racing for New Zealand this weekend, with Whanganui driver Earl Bamber piloting a 750hp car in the Netherlands.

A last-minute deal has gained New Zealand a place in the Superleague Formula Nations Cup – and a round of the series could be staged at the Taupo or Hampton Downs circuits later this year.

Originally this series was called Superleague Formula and each car represented a leading football team.

Now it has morphed into a cross between that concept and a successor to the defunct A1GP series, in which New Zealand twice finished second. This year cars will represent nations and some will also fly the colours of a football club.

"The deal was signed at 1pm yesterday [Thursday]," Hampton Downs chief executive Jamie Kett said from the Netherlands.

"It's an all-black car and it looks great, just like Black Beauty [New Zealand's A1GP car]."

The Superleague cars are bigger and faster than the A1GP machinery, with V12 engines.

Last year Bamber and fellow Kiwi Chris van der Drift both won feature races in the series – earning their teams more than $200,000 each time they were successful.

Bamber's father, Paul, said Earl had actually gone to the Netherlands to act as a television commentator, but had taken his racing gear with him just in case.

At the round in China last year Bamber also went to work for television, but stepped in to replace another driver and had to borrow a helmet and overalls.

This weekend's field of 14 includes ex-Formula One driver Antonio Pizzonia and Neel Jani, who won the 2007-08 A1GP championship for Switzerland.

Hampton Downs and Taupo have both made bids to stage a Superleague meeting in New Zealand this year and series chief Robin Webb checked out both circuits during a visit earlier this year. Both would need backing from central or local government to stage a meeting, but Kett said the prospect of Hampton Downs finding the necessary finance was looking good.

It would involve a five-year deal.

Football clubs represented this year are Anderlecht (Belgium), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands),Girondins de Bordeaux (France), Sparta Prague (Czech Republic), Atletico de Madrid (Spain) and Galatasaray (Turkey).

This weekend's races are at the Assen circuit in the north of the Netherlands.

- The Dominion Post

For this article and more click here

Provisional NZ round for 2011 Superleague Formula calendar

Speedcafe

Superleague Formula will finish its 2011 season in New Zealand, according to an official calendar released by the category.

The series, which pits football club-branded open-wheel racing cars against one another, is scheduled to visit 11 countries across 12 rounds.

The season will begin with six European events, before ending with six 'fly-aways' that will see the cars race in Russia, China, Brazil (twice), the Middle East and New Zealand.

A venue has yet to be announced for the New Zealand round, with Taupo and Hampton Downs the obvious possibilities.

While the sustainability of the largely sponsor-devoid Superleague Formula remains questionable, category competitions director Robin Webb believes the class's fourth season will be its best yet.

"SF took a significant step forward in 2010 when we visited China for the first time as part of our expanded 12 round calendar," he said.

" The 2011 schedule has a well-balanced mix of traditional venues and new circuits held across four different continents and we're looking forward to introducing our unique motorsport concept to new fans around the globe."

New Zealand's Chris van der Drift was a race winner in the class last year, before suffering a monumental accident during Round 7 at Brands Hatch. Countryman Earl Bamber made a one-off appearance in Beijing's Round 11.

With Australia not appearing on the 2011 calendar, it now appears unlikely that an Australian football club, rumoured to be Sydney FC, will feature in the championship this season.

An entry list for the 2011 season has yet to be released.

See below for the official 2011 calendar

Rd. Country Circuit Date

1 Portugal Estoril May 28/29

2 Holland Assen June 4/5

3 Spain Circuit de Navarra July 2/3

4 France Magny-Cours July 9/10

5 Belgium Zolder July 16/17

6 UK Donnington Park August 6/7

7 Russia Smolensk Ring September 10/11

8 China TBC September 24/25

9 Brazil Curitiba October 8/9

10 Brazil TBC October 15/16

11 Middle East TBC November 12/13

12 New Zealand TBC November 26/27

For this article and more click here

Rally New Zealand has 2012 WRC date confirmed by FIA

A media statement from the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) issued on 3 June confirms that Rally New Zealand will run as a round of the World Rally Championship in late June in 2012.

The dates – Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 June – place Rally New Zealand as a mid-season event in 13-round 2012 World Rally Championship.

Peter (‘PJ’) Johnston, chairman of Rally New Zealand, says it’s fantastic to have the dates confirmed so that planning for the event can progress.

“We have already done a lot of planning towards the 2012 event, which will be based in Auckland as it was in 2010, but until the actual dates were known, we could not move forward with key elements. Now we can,” says Johnston.

The World Motor Sport Council meeting confirmed the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship calendar as follows: (Note: The date shown is the Sunday of the rally weekend. Itineraries and the specific start date for each event is subject to final confirmation by event organisers.)
22/01 - Monte Carlo
12/02 - Sweden
11/03 - Mexico
01/04 - Portugal
29/04 - Argentina
27/05 - Greece * (or 03/06)
24/06 - New Zealand
05/08 - Finland
26/08 - Germany
16/09 - Great Britain
07/10 - France
October - Italy *
04/11 - Spain

* Dates subject to confirmation
 

For more information head to www.rallynz.org.nz

Kiwi V8 race driver Greg ‘Murph’ Murphy was impressed by the new V8SuperTourer after completing a full test session in the prototype of the car at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park last Friday (27 May).

“This was my first drive in the new car and it’s great! We’re definitely on the right track having a prototype for testing and we’re also on the right track with where this prototype will take us with the finished race cars when they get to New Zealand later in the year,” said the Melbourne-based wheelman.

“There are so many similarities to a V8 Supercar, but the V8SuperTourer is lighter. It’s got plenty of power; the chassis is great; it looks great and sounds great. The whole project is very exciting. There’s a little work to do, but the race car is a nice, simple, solid package. Everyone who has driven the car today is smiling – they just love it.”

Murphy officially confirmed on Friday that he would drive in the V8SuperTourer series when it kicks off in February next year, subject to there being no date clashes with his other racing commitments in V8Supercars in Australia. “It’s my intention to be on the starting grid in a VE Holden V8SuperTourer,” says Murphy.

There were wet on-track conditions last Friday but Murphy completed a solid test session as engineers monitored the car’s performance around the 2.8km Hampton Downs circuit.

After Murphy had put the car through its paces, two other confirmed V8SuperTourer drivers: Andy Booth and Paul Manuell had a crack. Like the other confirmed V8SuperTourer competitor, John McIntyre, Booth and Manuell have won the New Zealand V8 touring car championship in recent years.

Another ex NZ V8 champion Kayne Scott, also attended the test session and enjoyed the opportunity for a few laps in the new car. A total of 57 trouble-free laps were completed with the four drivers.

Sixteen V8SuperTourers are being built this year with 15 of this initial run already sold. The purpose-built race cars are all mechanically identical, running the same all-alloy 7-litre engine which produces around 550hp. The monocoque chassis is built to accommodate both the current Holden Commodore VE and Ford Falcon FG bodies, as well as other similar-sized four-dour production vehicles.

Murphy, Booth and Manuell are confirmed to start in the VE Commodore V8SuperTourer, while McIntyre has bought two FG Falcon versions of the V8SuperTourers and will drive one himself. The second McIntyre Racing car will be driven by a second driver who hasn’t been announced.

The new V8SuperTourers commence their inaugural seven round race series at Hampton Downs over the weekend of 17 to 19 February 2012.

Photo Credit: Geoff Ridder

Click here to view original article from NZV8.

For more articles head to www.v8.co.nz

May Newsletter

V8SuperTourer’s is an exciting new racing event and a further challenge for drivers.
The Series spokesman is John McIntyre, current V8 Champion and Andy Booth, previous two-time Champion, have completed 92 laps in the prototype V8SuperTourers race car at Hampton Downs.
The series will have 7 rounds commencing at Hampton Downs in February 2012. 

 

 

Edward Rooney | 23rd May 2011  

It will also be run on New Zealand's largest skid pad, this and the gymkhana will have prizes available for the winners.

Contestants pay only $90 which includes entry to all events and is open for anyone to enter.

More info available at www.aucklandmotorsport.co.nz

For this article and more click here

V8 racer John McIntyre sees new horizons

JOSH REICH

John McIntyre is the most successful driver in NZV8 history, but after winning his third championship he is turning his back on the class for a bold new venture.

On the final morning of his NZV8 career, McIntyre needed something akin to a miracle to overhaul Angus Fogg and claim his third BNT V8 Championship title.

He had taken pole on the streets of Hamilton, but was outdriven by Fogg in Saturday's first race to see him 52 points off the title.

The rest, as they say, is history.

On a drying track, McIntyre stormed home in race two, with Fogg dropping to 20th with gearbox issues to hand McIntyre the series lead for the first time that season.

In race three, a literal winner takes all affair, the Ford driver again held his nerve, coming home nearly 10 seconds ahead of Andy Booth, with Fogg finishing third.

He had achieved clean-sweeps of Hamilton in two of the three previous race weekends, and despite Saturday's disappointment, was still confident he had two good drives left in him.

"When I started that race ... sometimes you just get a feeling.

"I don't know what it is, but you get an overwhelming sense that you've got everything in control and your confidence goes up at the same time.

"When you put all those things together ..."

"I felt pretty pleased for myself and the team, for sticking with it really."

After an up-and-down season that featured crashes, disqualification and dropping as low as fifth on the championship ladder, he had captured that coveted third title.

"This year ... it was really about perserverance more than anything, and keeping focus right to the end.

"In this instance, race wins actually won us the championship, rather that lost it.

"It is always the best way to win a championship, to win the most races, and that's what happened this year, but no-one would have thought it would have finished like that after the way it went through."

He won't be gunning for a fourth trophy, however, as along with a number of the series' top drivers, he is abandoning NZV8s for the new seven-meet V8 SuperTourers competition.

If McIntyre is nervous about the change of direction, he certainly does a good job if hiding it.

Sitting in the lounge of the two-storey villa in Upper Moutere he has shared with his wife Lisa and daughters Ruby and Matilda for nearly four years, he says after 10 years in NZV8s, half of which has been devoted to his own team – John McIntyre Racing – 60 race wins and three championships, it is time for a new challenge.

Ad Feedback That's not being arrogant, it's simply the facts, and like many professional sportspeople, he is looking for new goals to achieve.

Plus, he has ploughed more than enough blood, sweat and dollars into the old V8 to last a lifetime.

He estimates he has spent more than $100,000 on the latest engine he has been running, but it is certainly not worth that much to anyone else.

"I don't want to spend any more of my sponsor's money on that car."

Instead, he will be spending that money on the new racing V8s, which are lighter, faster and more powerful than what he has been driving.

From the outside it will look similar, but as soon as it hits the track the difference will be apparent to those cheering from the sideline.

Interestingly, the old and new cars are worth around $185,000 each, but that is where many of the similarities end.

"It will be quite hard for them to tell the difference from the outside.

"The big difference they will notice is in the performance, it will be a lot quicker."

That includes 50-50 split in power-to-weight ratio, low racing weight (1120kg), huge amounts of horsepower and torque, six-speed gearbox, 18 x 11-inch tyres and big brakes.

The seven-meet series will line up with 16 drivers in its first season, including fan favourite Greg Murphy, Craig Baird and Andy Booth.

Fourteen of the 16 spots have been confirmed.

JMR has committed to two cars, while McIntyre is on the board and helping with the marketing and promotions side of the series, which begins at Hampton Downs in February next year.

It will break for winter, and is designed to avoid the crowded summer events list that often splits the entertainment dollar.

Two cars means more expense for the team, but is another way of lifting the professionalism.

JMR is moving its base from Hawke's Bay, where McIntyre grew up, to a purpose built track-side facility in Taupo, which will improve access to testing space and help service the needs of the team's sponsors.

McIntyre got behind the wheel of a new prototype SuperTourer at Hampton Downs 10 days ago and was glowing about its performance.

"Within three laps at the most, I felt very confident in the car, confident enough to be reaching speeds of well over 200kmh, sliding the car and getting to grips with its handling."

There will be plenty more tests to come, in between his commitments in the Australian V8 Supercars series, where he will partner Shane van Gisbergen in the enduro races at Phillip Island and Bathurst, before the first SuperTourer race in February next year.

With a young family, McIntyre hates thinking about how much time he spends away from home.

Living in Nelson means he is away more often than when the family lived in Christchurch and Auckland, but like many who come to the region, the lifestyle they enjoy makes up for the drag of the commute.

If it weren't for the promo car parked in the front yard, there is little to indicate what he does for a living, and that's the way he likes it.

While the public face of the job is racing, a tremendous amount of work goes on behind the scenes to keep a pro-race team going.

As the man in the hot seat, it's McIntyre's job to get the sponsors, and knowing how hard it can be, he is more than happy to help young drivers hone their own approach.

"It's a continual job because not only are you finding it, but you're looking after people, setting things up and there is always a request to speak at a function.

"It's what you make of it really, but you can't have your cake and eat it, too.

"There is no team in New Zealand that is set up purely to pay drivers and have them on the payroll, so if you want to do it full time, you've got to do it yourself.

"I've got to make it happen, and what I've learnt is that you're your own best salesperson."

Running the old NZV8 team cost between $500,000 and $700,000 a season, and SuperTourers will cost more.

It is also levelling the playing field, meaning some of the knowledge McIntyre has built up will be of no use, but he is not phased.

"People are scared of losing their competitive advantage, but if you're good enough, you're never really scared of the opposition.

"We're not.

"I want to race guys on the level playing field because I know it's going to get tough, really tough, and that's going to bring the best out in me, and the team."

Motorsport is, by its very nature, a risky business, and turning one's back on an established set-up is something of a leap into the unknown. Despite that, McIntyre says it is a risk worth pursuing.

"We will be the premier category in New Zealand, there is no doubt in my mind about that."

"It will only take the first race meeting for people to realise how serious the drivers and the teams and the cars are, and I think the fans will appreciate that as well.

"They want to see 16 – to start with we've only got 16 cars but that will grow.

"But when they see the calibre of Greg Murphy, myself, Craig Baird, guys like Jonny Reid all racing together, in the latest technology touring cars, I think they will be pretty excited."

- The Nelson Mail

For this article and more please click here or go to http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport/

One out of the box

By Eric Thompson

The first serious test session for the new V8SuperTourer has passed without any dramas, and there were a lot of big grins from both drivers involved.

Current and three-time NZV8 champion John McIntyre completed the most laps during a day-long shakedown test of the new V8 race car at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park last Friday, with two-time champion Andy Booth also enjoying a good stint behind the wheel.

In 92 laps on the 2.8km Hampton circuit, the prototype V8SuperTourer didn't miss a beat.

"We had absolutely no major issues with the car," says McIntyre. "This is one outstanding race car straight out of the box and we've had a really successful day."

The prototype V8SuperTourer has only just been completed and had been on a 15-lap low-speed outing at Hampton Downs the previous Tuesday.

McIntyre said that despite the wet conditions early in the test session, it took just a few laps for him to feel comfortable in the 7-litre V8-powered racer.

"Within three laps at the most I felt very confident in the car, confident enough to be reaching speeds of well over 200km/h, sliding the car and getting to grips with its handling."

Various suspension adjustments were trialled to ascertain the car's balance and handling on the demanding Hampton course.

"The chassis and handling is very responsive and able to be fine-tuned to suit conditions and the driver.

"There was a dry line right at the end - just a little damp in places - and our last lap was 1min 7.2sec, and there's definitely a lot more pace yet to come.

"From an engineering point of view, the car's power, robustness and ability to dial in to suit each driver will give competitors a lot of confidence in the car," says McIntyre.

Among those at the test session were the three main members of the working group behind the new series, Mark Petch, Garry Pedersen and Wayne Anderson.

Petch said they couldn't be happier with how the car performed straight out of the box. "We've hit the nail on the head," says McIntyre.

"To take an idea, see it evolve into a CAD drawing, see it constructed and now watch the finished car on the race track - it's amazing."

The V8SuperTourers inaugural seven-round race series at Hampton Downs is from February 17-19.

By Eric Thompson

To view this article and more articles by the herald please click here 

V8SuperTourer car has first shakedown testing session

By NZV8

The first serious test session with the new V8SuperTourer car took place at Hampton Downs last Friday (6 May). According to reports the new car handled itself well and is set up nicely for racing duties next season.

It was current NZV8 champion John McIntyre who completed the most laps during a full-on shakedown test of the new V8 race car, with fellow two-time NZV8 champion Andy Booth also enjoying a good stint behind the wheel.

In 92 laps on the 2.8km Hampton circuit, the prototype V8SuperTourer didn’t miss a beat.

“We had absolutely no major issues with the car,” said McIntyre. “This is one outstanding race car straight out of the box and we’ve had a really successful day.”

Photo Credit: Adrian Page, NZ AutoCar

The prototype V8SuperTourer has only just been completed and previously had a 15 lap shakedown at very low speed at Hampton Downs last Tuesday.

McIntyre said, despite the very wet conditions early in the test session, it took just a few laps for him to feel very comfortable in the 7-litre V8-powered racer. “Within three laps at the most, I felt very confident in the car, confident enough to be reaching speeds of well over 200km/h, sliding the car and getting to grips with its handling.”

Between McIntyre and Booth, 92 laps of testing were completed. Various suspension adjustments were trialled to see the car’s reactions around the undulating Hampton course.

“The chassis and handling is very responsive and able to be fine-tuned to suit conditions and the driver. There was a dry line right at the end – just a little damp in places – and our last lap was 1 minute 7.2 seconds and there’s definitely a lot more pace yet to come.

“From an engineering point of view, the car’s power, robustness and ability to dial in to suit each driver will give competitors a lot of confidence in the car.”

Among those at the test session were the three main members of the working group behind the new V8SuperTourers series, Garry Pedersen, Wayne Anderson and Mark Petch. Petch commented that they couldn’t be happier with how the car performs straight out of the box.

The new V8SuperTourers commence their inaugural seven round race series at Hampton Downs over the weekend of 17 to 19 February 2012. 16 Cars will line up for the first event with further driver and team announcements coming in the next few weeks.

Click here to view original article from NZV8.

For more articles head to www.v8.co.nz

Paddon secures honour of Rally NZ win

Photo credit: Euan Cameron

Hayden Paddon and John Kennard have won Rally New Zealand, extending the lead they held on Saturday night to secure a significant margin of 2 min 26.8 sec over rivals Richard and Sara Mason.

The Rally New Zealand victory marks the third win in a row for Paddon and Kennard, who won the Production World Rally Championship category of Rally Portugal in March and then returned to New Zealand to win Rally Otago in April.

Twenty-four year old Paddon describes the win as a great honour. “To be the first Kiwi to win this event in 30 years is very special, despite this not being a World Rally Championship event in 2011. It is amazing to have my name etched on the Rally New Zealand trophy alongside some of the greats of world rallying, including my hero Colin McRae.”

From the outset, Paddon, from Geraldine, and Kennard, from Blenheim, dominated the two-day event which ran on 7 and 8 May based at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park midway between Auckland and Hamilton. Leading from the front as top seed, the pair piloted their Group N four-wheel-drive Subaru STI rally car through Saturday’s stages in the Franklin district. Their pace was clear on the wet roads and Paddon continued to add to his leading margin with each stage win.

Paddon said: “After heavy rain on Friday night after reconnaissance, the roads had become a little softer and being first on the road was certainly not a bad place to be. The damp conditions surprisingly had a lot of grip to offer, which combined with the developments we made to the car during our testing recently, meant the car was very easy to drive. There is still more to come but I am happy with the direction that we are heading.”

By the end of day one with six of the eight stages to his credit, Paddon’s margin over Mason was 2 min 17.3 sec.

Starting day two again at the front of the field, Paddon and Kennard tackled five further gravel stages including the famous, scenic Whaanga Coast stage just south of Raglan. “There was a little more gravel on the roads for us to sweep and we didn’t deal with that perfectly, but we still set some good times. We were able to win the day by 10 sec from Richard Mason and extend our winning margin to 2 min 26.8 sec. We were particularly happy to be a lot more competitive on Whaanga Coast than we have been in the past.”

Paddon and his team have been working with their New Zealand Subaru rally car – a Possum Bourne Motorsport-built Subaru STI provided with the support of Palmerston North businessman Robbie Leicester – and using this development information to aid their PWRC campaign which recommences at Rally Argentina in late May.

“We’ve spent a lot of time testing and developing aspects of this New Zealand car since the win in Otago and it’s very satisfying to see this work is heading in the right direction. We have been sending data and talking with our Symtech engineers as they prepare our PWRC car for Argentina. [Symtech is a Belgium motorsport team contracted to build and run the Paddon Rallysport Global car.]

With the Rally New Zealand win to their credit, Paddon and Kennard head to Argentina in ten days for Paddon’s first-ever rally in South America. Their P-WRC campaign also takes them to Finland, Australia, Spain and Great Britain, with another New Zealand event – the International Rally of Whangarei, which they’ve won three times – also on the calendar.

Hayden Paddon Rallysport Global appreciates the support of Subaru, EDL Fasteners, Paddon, Chicane, Radio Sport, Radio Hauraki, Raisey Sports Nutrition, FMG, Resene Automotive, Endless Brakes, Castrol, Rally Tours NZ, Saddle Hill Quarries from Dunedin, John Penny Homes from Taupo and Yuchai Excavators.

The team shares text updates, comments and photos on www.facebook.com/haydenpaddonwrc or visit the website www.haydenpaddon.com.

ENDS/

For more information, please contact:

Hayden Paddon – hayden@paddonrallysport.co.nz, 027 318 1748

Or

Kate Gordon – kate@relishcomm.co.nz, 021 587 227

Hayden Paddon’s 2011 calendar

24-27 March – Vodafone Rally de Portugal (PWRC)

8-10 April – Rally Otago (NZRC)

26-29 May – Rally Argentina (PWRC)

15-17 July – International Rally of Whangarei (NZRC)

28-31 July – Neste Oil Rally Finland (PWRC)

8-11 Sept – Rally Australia (PWRC)

20-23 Oct – Rally de Espana (Rally Spain, PWRC)

10-13 Nov – Wales Rally GB (PWRC)

Young star learns one formula for success

By Eric Thompson

Yet another extraordinary young New Zealand motor racing talent, 16-year-old Mitch Evans, is this weekend about to find out if he can take his Australasian open-wheel dominance into Europe.

He heads to the opening round of his GP3 campaign this weekend in Istanbul, Turkey, with high hopes of doing well both for himself and his MW Arden team.

Pre-season testing has gone well for Evans, who has never driven a GP3 car before, consistently vying for the fastest lap times among many more established drivers.

Evans has turned heads with his speed and race craft here in New Zealand, in Australia and in his forays further abroad. So much so that Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber, his manager Ann Webber, and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner all agree he's the young man with the right fit for their MW Arden GP3 team.

"It's absolutely incredible to get the opportunity, to be honest," said Evans. "To have someone from the F1 paddock, especially a driver, mentoring me is incredible.

If those three think a young Kiwi driver may have the goods to go all the way, motor racing fans in New Zealand should keep an eye on Evans' progress this season.

He arrives in Turkey this weekend as the Toyota Racing Series champion and the youngest driver to win the New Zealand Grand Prix. In doing so he also became the youngest driver in the world to win an international FIA-recognised Grand Prix.

This result came hot on the heels of Evans winning the International Young Driver of the Year in 2009 and he was pipped for the overall Driver of the Year title by Formula One drivers Sebastien Vettel and Jenson Button.

High praise indeed for someone so young about to embark on his next big adventure.

Racing in a support class for the blue riband of motorsport, Evans is perfectly placed for the movers and shakers of F1, if he does well, to take note that he may be a star of the future.

"I met Mitch for the first time at last year's Australian Grand Prix and was amazed at how switched on he was. When I was at that age, I was only karting and was barely thinking about Formula One - it shows how much things have changed over the years," said Webber.

"At this very early stage he is displaying all the right ingredients and characteristics to be successful at the highest level and he has some great people behind him who I'm certain will do everything to ensure he fulfils his dream. It's really important that he chooses his next steps carefully and I'm looking forward to playing my part by using my own personal experiences and contacts to make the move as seamless as possible, and helping his development on and off the track."

Having attended Motorsport New Zealand's Elite Motorsport Academy in Dunedin, Evans has an understanding that it's a holistic approach to motor racing that enables a driver to reach the heights of international competition. And as such he is at pains to mention that without the support of his parents and many sponsors including the influential (especially in motorsport circles) Giltrap family, the task would have been even more difficult.

"All my sponsors have been great and without my Mum and Dad and the likes of the Giltraps, gen-i and Banklink I doubt everything would have happened.

"I'm really excited to be racing with MW Arden in the 2011 GP3 Series. The test in Estoril went well and we are really happy joining the team as they are very professional. I'm looking forward to working with them in my first year of racing in Europe.

"It's certainly going to be a very tough series and a steep learning curve as I've not raced at any of these circuits before but I'm looking forward to the challenge and the whole experience of living in Europe," said Evans.

By Eric Thompson

For more articles by Eric Thompson from the New Zealand Herald please click here

Paddon wins Rally NZ with significant margin

All-out fastest lap time attack comp at Rally NZ’s High Octane on Hampton

A time attack challenge, where competitors strive for the ultimate lap, is another exciting aspect of Rally New Zealand’s High Octane on Hampton event this Sunday, 8 May.

Taking place at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park midway between Auckland and Hamilton, High Octane on Hampton features the intensely-competitive time attack competition alongside the New Zealand-first Gymkhana X Ken Block-style timed challenge and much more.

Rally New Zealand chairman Peter ‘PJ’ Johnston says motorsport fans can look forward to a phenomenal day of action at Hampton Downs on Sunday.

“There’s such a lot going on – from the time attack competition to our Gran Turismo 5 virtual racing challenge with fantastic prizes for the quickest on the day,” says Johnston.

The time attack challenge sees competitors put it all on the line to try and deliver one faultless, ultra fast lap of the circuit.

“It’s all about power, the perfect chassis, suspension and brake set-up,” says Johnston. “Fans will see some amazing vehicles take on Hampton Downs’ 2.8km circuit. The guys to beat look to be Harry Dodson and Clark Proctor who both drive 800HP Dodson Motorsport-prepared Nissan R35 GT-Rs. Harry is fresh from winning the inaugural Ohakune 1000 tarmac hill climb.”

The High Octane time attack competition also features Steve Wilcock who runs a TRD N2-replica AE86 Toyota Corolla. This car features a genuine Formula Atlantic 4A-GE engine that screams out to 10,000rpm. Wilcock also races another AE86 Corolla in the saloon class on the same day. Hans Ruiterman, younger brother of top drifter Carl Ruiterman, pilots his E&H Motors 700+HP Nissan Silvia S14 – he’s definitely one to watch! Darryl Jhinku, president of the WRXSTI Club, tackles the challenge in his replica Possum Bourne WRC car complete with a genuine Prodrive engine.

Currently the Hampton Downs lap record is held by Auckland teenager Mitch Evans who broke the previous record, set by Kenny Smith, in a Toyota single seater race car with a time of 1:01.846 and a best speed of 153.090 km/h.

High Octane on Hampton is part of Rally New Zealand’s massive weekend of motorsport and includes a full-on PlayStation Gran Turismo 5 virtual racing challenge with fantastic prizes, a Deluxe bikini model competition, drift demonstrations from D1NZ and ‘big banger’ circuit racing. Fans can also take in the rally competitors running the exciting Hampton Downs super special stage.

Tickets for Sunday’s High Octane on Hampton are available at the gate, priced at $25 for each adult and children under 12 years of age free with a paying adult. On-track action starts at 8:50am with qualifying sessions for several classes and the first race at 10:10am. Visit the event website www.rallynz.org.nz for more detail.
ENDS

Photo credit: Brad Lord. It shows Harry Dodson, one of the competitors tacking the High Octane on Hampton time attack challenge this weekend.

For further quotes, please contact:
Peter (PJ) Johnston, director, Rally New Zealand
Mob: 021 950 250

For high resolution or alternative images, and all other queries, please contact:
Kate Gordon, media manager, Rally New Zealand
Mob: 021 587 227
Email: kate@rallynz.org.nz

First-ever Gymkhana X features at Rally NZ’s High Octane on Hampton

Rally New Zealand brings out new challenge for NZRC competitors

Competitors in this weekend’s Rally New Zealand [7 to 8 May] will be torn between the chance of getting their name on the Rally New Zealand trophy alongside rally icons Colin McRae and Sébastien Loeb or steering to finish for points in the second round of the 2011 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.

This year Rally New Zealand takes in 260 kilometres of competitive stages through the Franklin, North Waikato and Raglan districts with nearly half the 71-car field aiming to collect points toward the five-round championship series.

Geraldine’s Hayden Paddon currently tops the overall Goldstar drivers’ leader-board, so leads the field through the first day of eight stages in his Supercheap Autos-branded Subaru STI. Paddon and his Blenheim-based co-driver John Kennard finished as the first Kiwis in Rally New Zealand 2010 and the top rally pairing want to go one better in 2011.

“It hasn’t been since the mid-1990s when Possum Bourne was in a top-level factory-supported Subaru that a Kiwi had a realistic chance of winning our home event. This year, without the World Rally Championship cars here, we’ve all got the ultimate opportunity of being first finisher – so that’s my focus – winning the event,” says Paddon.

“As I’m taking a rally-by-rally approach to the New Zealand championship, we will be putting pressure on ourselves to be fastest and to continue to improve my driving before our next round of the Production World Rally Championship. It will be great to go to Argentina at the end of the month after a win at home.”

Defending New Zealand rally champion Dean Sumner is taking a different approach to the weekend’s event, saying the championship is his primary focus. Rotorua-based Sumner drives the ITM-supported Mitsubishi Lancer and following round one in Otago trails Paddon by 20 points. Sumner says he prefers the role of hunter than being hunted.

“We approach every rally that we don’t chase a win, we let it come to us. So we’ll be doing what we normally do and trying our best. A win would be nice and to have our name on that trophy but we’re concentrating on the championship and want to defend our title best we can,” says Sumner.

Like Paddon, the world’s leading female rally driver Emma Gilmour is similarly charged at the chance of having her name etched alongside the world’s best. Currently placed fourth in the standings after running a spirited second overall during the early stages of her home Otago rally mid-April, Gilmour is putting a bet each way on her plans for Rally New Zealand.

“Both. The championship is very important, but if we’re doing well in the championship then we’ve got a good chance of picking up the winner’s trophy as well,” says Gilmour, who came close to finishing first Kiwi at the 2005 event. “It really is a chicken or egg scenario. Everyone wants to be at the front and I’m sure we’ll be revising as we go as to which comes first, the championship or the trophy.”

As well as competitors in the premier Group N (production) category, the field includes open class four-wheel-drive cars, two-wheel drive and the increasingly-popular historic class. Many of the cars that dominated rally competitions in the 1970s through to 1980s appear in this category at Rally New Zealand with a number have been carefully restored to their former glory. One example is the Nissan 240RS used by 1984 Goldstar champion Tony Teesdale, which is again leading the championship standings with its present owner, North Shore’s Rob Wylie. Wylie returns to rally competition this season to reclaim a title he won in 2008 with the same car.

Mixed in with the championship cars a number of replica and modified variants have stretched the entry list, including 1985 Goldstar champion Brian Stokes in a Ford Escort RS1800 and 2009 champions Mike and Helen Cameron in a Mitsubishi. One who has dropped from the list, intending to enter Rally New Zealand even after a high-speed crash at the Otago opener, is Christchurch’s Jeff Judd, who has since been hospitalised following a boating accident.

Rally New Zealand also incorporating a third division with just over half the field contesting the Smartwood by Alpwood Possum Bourne Memorial Rally, which runs only on the Saturday. This event was won in 2010 by Whangarei’s Brendan Oakden, who returns to defend the title. Oakden starts behind the Subaru of Alex Kelsey (Coromandel) and Mitsubishi of Kingsley Jones (Auckland). Driving a Subaru himself, Oakden says starting down the field should help with picking the brake and turning points used by the cars in front.

“Definitely we’re out to win – to defend the title and get the Possum Bourne Memorial trophy back for another year. We’re doing things on the light side this year after some sponsors had to withdraw, so we’re only going for this event,” says Oaken. “It’ll be the first event that Tasha, my co-driver and I have contested since the Far North rally last year, so it’s been a long time since we’ve both been in the car.”

Rally New Zealand officially gets underway with a free-to-attend driver autograph session and ceremonial start at the Manukau City Centre from 6:00pm on Friday 6 May. The first competitors cross the start ramp from 7:30pm. On Saturday morning, competitors then depart at timed intervals from 8am at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park rally headquarters to contest eight special stages throughout the day, including two super special stages run around the Hampton race circuit. On Sunday 8 May, rally crews face six further stages around Raglan, including the iconic Whaanga Coast stage, before returning to Hampton Downs for the final super special stage on the race track, followed by a prize-giving track-side from 5:30pm.

At Hampton Downs, in between the rally super special stages, other races and action takes place on both Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday’s ‘High Octane on Hampton’ event set to be a must-see day of exciting motorsport action which includes the first-ever running of a Ken Block-style Gymkhana X competition, a Gran Turismo 5 virtual racing challenge with great prizes on offer, drift demonstrations from the stars of D1NZ, a time attack competition around Hampton Downs’ sweeping circuit, a bikini model challenge, a 100-car park-up, and circuit racing from classic and modern muscle cars, sports and GTs, and a specially-invited field of Formula 5000s and Atlantics.

More details, including a free spectator map are available from the Rally New Zealand website, www.rallynz.org.nz.

Access to rural rally stages is via gold coin donation to support the community groups which help with on-event parking and safety marshalling, while adult ticket prices at Hampton Downs are $10 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday and include viewing for the rally’s super special stages run on the circuit.

Head to www.hdticketing.co.nz for Sunday tickets

Racers, classics and bangers rally together

Circuit-racing fans will not be disappointed at the big banger line-up.

Round two of the national rally championship, Rally New Zealand, launches into action this weekend at Hampton Downs and incorporates the Rally New Zealand Historic Rally and the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally.

A specific Rally New Zealand race preview will be in the Weekend Herald this Saturday, and in the run-up to the annual event Driven is taking a look at all the other entertainment available around the main event and how fans can get to see the best of the rally and drivers in action.

The free ceremonial start, and driver autograph-signing session, begins at the Manukau City Centre on Friday at 6pm. Fans will be able to watch competitors cross the start ramp to officially start this year's Rally New Zealand.

On Saturday, access to rural rally stages is via gold-coin donation to support the community groups that help with event parking and safety marshalling.

After the lunchtime service break, crews repeat the four stages in the afternoon. Saturday's 148km completes the action for competitors in the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally field, who wrap up the day with a prize-giving at the Pukekohe Car Club.

In between each super special stage, the final rounds of the BMC race series take place. Classic car fans will delight in the on-track action from star cars that include Tony Robert's Chevrolet Corvette, Racing Ray Williams' Porsche, and Jaguars, Ferraris, Datsun Zs, Lancias, Ford Escorts, MGBs and Fiats.

On Sunday, the start time is again 8am with competitors heading southwest to tackle five stages around Raglan, including the iconic Whaanga Coast stage. They return to Hampton Downs for a final super special stage starting at 4pm before the finish ceremony and prizegiving at 5:30pm.

Wrapped around the rally action is the High Octane on Hampton day with a huge variety of motorsport, competitions and displays, including New Zealand's first Gymkhana X competition. This is a Ken Block-style event where competitors negotiate a technical course on the Hampton Downs skidpan while racing against the clock.

Also, there's the Gran Turismo 5 competition. Open to all (event ticket must be purchased for access to competition area), entrants drive the HKS Racing Performer CT230R on Vision Racer simulation units and attempt to do the fastest lap on the Tsukuba Circuit. The entrant with the fastest lap time will win $500 cash and a special Sony prize. Then the top eight competitors race off, "driving" Sebastien Loeb's 2010 Citroen WRC car on a Gran Turismo gravel rally stage. All eight finalists receive prizes with the winner receiving $500 cash, $100 fuel vouchers and a special Sony prize pack including a PS3 console.

The creme of New Zealand's drifting crop will be attacking the track twice during the day in D1NZ Drift Demo sessions.

Circuit-racing fans will not be disappointed at the big banger line-up set to compete in three class categories. See classic and modern muscle cars, sports and GTs and open-wheeler racing from a specially invited field of Formula 5000s and Atlantics.

One hundred modified high-performance street cars will be on static display and taking part in circuit lapping during the lunchbreak.

By Eric Thompson

For more related articles from NZ Herald please click here

GT5 comp a highlight of Rally NZ’s High Octane on Hampton

Adding a whole new dimension to Rally New Zealand in 2011 is the action-packed High Octane on Hampton ‘side show’ on Sunday 8 May. A major highlight among the rally super special stages, top-flight racing and competitions at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is a Gran Turismo® 5 virtual racing competition.

Rally New Zealand chairman Peter (‘PJ’) Johnston is excited about the whole High Octane on Hampton concept.

“There’s a great pool of prizes up for grabs for the Gran Turismo 5 virtual challenge finalists,” says Johnston. “True GT5 fans will appreciate the opportunity to see one of the coolest cars in the Gran Turismo game – the HKS Racing Performer CT230R, a 417kW (560hp), 950kg weapon built by leading Japanese aftermarket performance parts manufacturer HKS around a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII and the fastest-ever car to contest the famous Japanese Tsukuba run.

Gran Turismo 5 is the world’s most realistic driving simulation game exclusive to PlayStation® 3. It allows you to race against friends/rivals, or against other virtual racers around the world, online. With over 1,000 cars, countless tracks including Top Gear, WRC and NASCAR courses, stunning graphics and infinite racing challenges, GT5 is the ultimate arena to settle any score.

“It’s going to be an absolutely amazing day at Hampton Downs and being able to see the now-retired CT230R actually there, at the track, is the icing on the cake. We thank Darryl Young of Redline Performance (HKS New Zealand) and Brad Lord of G-Force magazine for their help in securing this very special car for our display.”

Johnston adds: “Anyone can register to compete in the Gran Turismo 5 virtual challenge, which is made possible with the support of Sony PlayStation. Simply come to Hampton Downs Motorsport Park for 9am on Sunday 8 May, pay the entry fee to the circuit and look for the Sony signage to find the GT5 competition arena inside the pavilion.

“The GT5 experience is made all the more exciting when using one of the most impressive racing simulators to ever hit the market, the VisionRacer. Sold in over 40 countries, the simulator is the brainchild of a New Zealand design team, proving that once again Kiwis are in pole position when it comes to excellence in both racing and product innovation.”

For the first round of the GT5 competition, all entrants will ‘drive’ the HKS Racing Performer CT230R on Vision Racer simulation units and attempt to do the fastest lap on the Tsukuba Circuit. A scoreboard of times will be kept throughout the day, with the entrant with the fastest lap time receiving $500 cash and a special GT5 prize pack from Sony.

Then, the top eight competitors race off in a final time-trial session ‘driving’ Sébastien Loeb's 2010 Citroën WRC car on a Gran Turismo gravel rally stage until the grand winner is found. All eight finalists receive a GT5 prize pack and a $50 Gull petrol voucher, while the winner gets to take home their own Sony PlayStation3 console, $500 cash, $100 Gull fuel voucher and more from Red Bull and Sony.

David Hine, Director, Sales and Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment NZ comments: “We are extremely excited about the mix of both virtual and on track high octane racing action that will be on display at Hampton Downs. Gran Turismo 5 for PS3™ encompasses a wide variety of motorsport disciplines whether on Nürburgring, drifting or for the rally fans taking it to the dirt tracks. It will be great to see the top times in the GT5 Virtual Challenge at Hampton Downs.”

Rally New Zealand’s High Octane on Hampton event also includes the first-ever running of a Ken Block-style Gymkhana X competition, drift demonstrations from the stars of D1NZ, a time attack competition around Hampton Downs’ sweeping circuit, a Deluxe bikini model challenge, a 100-car park-up, and circuit racing from classic and modern muscle cars, sports and GTs, and a specially-invited field of Formula 5000s and Atlantics. While all the action takes place at Hampton Downs, the rally competitors tackle the mighty Whaanga Coast stage and five more before returning to the circuit for their final super special stage around 4pm, followed by a prize-giving ceremony.

Rally New Zealand 2011 is round two of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, in association with Neil Allport Motorsports. The rally side of event also features the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally and the new Rally New Zealand Historic Rally.

Access to rural rally stages is via gold coin donation to support the community groups which help with on-event parking and safety marshalling, while the adult ticket prices at Hampton Downs are $10 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday and include viewing for the rally’s super special stages run on the circuit.

Fans can find the spectator map in the Spectator section of the event’s website, www.rallynz.org.nz, and also keep up with the latest news via Rally New Zealand’s Facebook page.
 

Rally New Zealand field bolstered with Paddon’s entry

An already strong entry list for this year’s two-day Rally New Zealand has been bolstered with confirmation that two-time New Zealand rally champion Hayden Paddon has entered the event with his new Subaru STI rally car.

The Geraldine-based driver and his Blenheim-based co-driver John Kennard are in the midst of a comprehensive international campaign to win the FIA Production World Rally Championship title, but the pairing also has the opportunity to contest some events at home in New Zealand courtesy of a partnership with Palmerston North businessman Robbie Leicester. The partnership has already proved successful with Paddon winning the DriveSouth Rally of Otago on his first outing with the car.

Paddon’s entry in Rally New Zealand adds further impetus for other teams to test themselves against the just-turned-24-year-old who was ranked by Autosport magazine’s rally editor, David Evans, as one of the top ten drivers in the world last year.

“It’s absolutely fantastic news that Hayden and his team will line up for Rally New Zealand when it commences next Friday night with the ceremonial start at Manukau City Centre,” says Rally New Zealand chairman Peter (‘PJ’) Johnston.

“Hayden is showing the world that he’s got the talent and skill to win a world rally title. To have him racing at home for line honours in Rally New Zealand is exciting for fans and the event, and like the other competitors, Hayden will be racing to see if he can have his name inscribed on the Rally New Zealand trophy alongside WRC winners of previous years.”

With Rally New Zealand forming the second round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, the main sporting focus is on the battle for points in New Zealand’s premier rallying contest. However for the first time in his five years of national rally competition, Paddon’s focus is not on winning the championship, but rather on getting more competitive kilometres under the tyres of his new Subaru.

“Our New Zealand Subaru is built to the same Group N (production car) specification as the car we are running in the Production World Rally Championship, which is built by a Belgium-based team, Symtech,” says Paddon.

“The goal remains to get more miles in the Subarus after all our years driving Mitsubishis. There are many synergies between the two cars and our learning and development with the New Zealand car certainly aids the Europe-based car.

“Of course, we’ll be doing our best to win – that’s what we do! And it would be a great honour indeed to win Rally New Zealand outright regardless of whether this is a WRC year or not.”

Rally New Zealand takes in two days of rally action through the Franklin, North Waikato and Raglan districts for competitors across three fields: NZRC, Rally New Zealand Historic Rally and Possum Bourne Memorial Rally.

Rally New Zealand 2011 gets underway with a free-to-attend driver autograph session and ceremonial start at Manukau City Centre from 6:00 pm on Friday 6 May. On Saturday 7 May, competitors head from the rally headquarters at Hampton Downs to tackle eight special stages which include two super special stages run around the Hampton race circuit. On Sunday 8 May, rally crews face six further stages around Raglan and the iconic Whaanga Coast stage before returning to Hampton Downs for super special stage on the race track, followed by the official finish and podium presentations track-side from 5:30 pm. At Hampton Downs, in between the rally super special stages, other races and action takes place on both Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday’s ‘High Octane on Hampton’ event set to be a must-see day of exciting motorsport action.

Access to rural rally stages is via gold coin donation to support the community groups which help with on-event parking and safety marshalling, while the adult ticket prices at Hampton Downs are $10 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday and include viewing for the rally’s super special stages run on the circuit.

Fans can find the spectator map in the Spectator section of the event’s website, www.rallynz.org.nz, and also keep up with the latest news via Rally New Zealand’s Facebook page.
 

Photography credit: LM Sports Photography. It shows Hayden Paddon in action during round 1 of the NZRC in Otago, where he won the event.

Most of you good readers will have seen the pictures on this page before you started reading the story.

I think I can write with some confidence that none of you will have seen an Aston Martin Rapide with a long board on its roof, on a local dirt road, before.

This missive is not a road test per se, as there are many more august motoring journalists out there who will be able to convey the technical aspects of the car far better than I.

That is; fuel consumption, the gizmos inside and outside, performance, balance, braking distances, top speed, naught to whatever and all that other stuff you can find on the internet, magazine and newspaper spec sheets.

I must reiterate this is not a road test. More a seat-of-the-pants thing to see if this car which, to be perfectly honest, is out of the reach of us mere mortals, is just a desirable object or something you can actually live with.

Not too sure if it's a technical thing or not, but what I know and am not likely to forget in a long time, is the engine made a bloody awesome noise when it was fired up.

According to Greg Brinck at Independent Prestige, it has something to do with a valve in the exhaust system that lets the engine breathe more if it revs over 3000 or so and on starting.

Without exception, every time the car fired up people stopped and looked and the great thing was, nobody spun around with a glare of disdain. On occasion, we're not all about sustainability, carbon footprints, electric hybrid this and that. There are times when pure aesthetics, beautiful lines coupled with functionality and a great noise will turn even the most staunch of green, left-leaning liberals.

As I usually cover motorsport, and motorsport alone, I very rarely get to drive road-going cars. How this experience came about was, oddly enough, at a motorsport meeting at Hampton Downs.

I suggested Independent Prestige should hand over one of their showpieces to go surfing in, to prove that despite being on the exclusive side, they could be used normally.

The idea struck a chord and before long I was leaving the Great North Rd dealership behind the wheel of a car I only previously had as a Dinky toy. Well, not this model - it was James Bond's DB5 - but an Aston Martin nonetheless.

The first thing I noted was that I could see out of it and didn't feel like I was cocooned inside some futuristic spaceship. On the odd occasion I have driven luxury supercars I've noticed they're damn hard to see out of. Not so with the Rapide, it had good vision front, side and, believe it or not, out the back as well.

For a visually big car it drives remarkably like a mid-size vehicle, which instantly put me at ease as I plotted my way through Friday afternoon traffic heading out of Auckland towards the wilds of Rodney.

On the way home I had to pick up my daughter and two of her friends from netball practice. Not only was Lottie most impressed, but her two friends have starting saving up for a vehicle they described as "a really cool car". Encouraging words from a bunch of teenage girls who have no interest in motorcars, and would rather be discussing the latest pop song, band or actor.

The next morning we loaded up to hit the beach and, as you can see in the pictures, the boot accommodates enough stuff for four people and a 2.8m longboard, which fits beautifully on the roof with a pair of soft racks.

The roofline of the car looks like it was made for a surfboard. Loaded up with the beach gear and four people, we set off to Tawharanui. There's definitely something to be said for a monster V12 engine under the hood because the car never noticed it was fully laden and handled the load beautifully.

A small amount of apprehension set in as we approached the dirt road that leads into the regional park. Not so much for the car itself, but how it would handle on big tyres on gravel.

I need not have worried. I'm not going to try to explain how the adaptive suspension works (that's the bastion of motoring road testers) but I can tell you it works bloody well on dirt roads.

On arriving in the car park the Rapide didn't turn too many heads as there were a few other rather expensive pieces of 4WD machinery assembled, but the odd person came over to check out how the soft racks fitted. Also, being on the short side, I was able to get the board on and off the roof without the use of a stepladder, unlike a few others with big European machines.

Over the weekend the Rapide's elegant, sexy, slightly aggressive look drew a lot of attention, as did its sound. Everyone who rode in it was impressed. Their ages ranged from 14 all the way up to 70-year-olds, who spent most of their time in the back seats and thought them very comfortable.

I admit I've never been one for the expensive supercar toy that is about as practical as an udder on a bull, but the Rapide has the pedigree, the looks, the engine and the sound. And you can pack it up and hit the beach with it - now that's my sort of supercar.

No need to step down when you're still the King

By Andy McGechan

Waikato's Andrew Stroud is as fast as he's ever been and sees no reason, even at the "advanced" age of 43, why he should give up on one of the most thrilling and, perhaps, dangerous of extreme sports, motorcycle road racing.

Described by many as the "ultimate family man", father-of-eight Stroud clinched a record ninth New Zealand superbike crown with a round to spare, winning the title at the fourth round of five at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, late last month. He also won the day at the final round at Manfeild, in Feilding, just over a week ago, clinching the one-off King of Manfeild trophy in the process.

The Suzuki star's success rate on the Kiwi domestic scene is unrivalled and, as the defence of his 2010 New Zealand Superbike Championship title reached a most positive climax in the Manawatu, he took time to reflect on what it all means and what the future has in store.

"I might as well keep racing ... I am still enjoying it you know? Besides, I think I can still win. I don't feel I'm going any slower these days," an understatement from the man who is, after all, top dog in the premier superbikes class again this season.

"If anything, I feel more grounded with my racing, more in control than ever before. I guess, with helping to bring up a family of eight children, I have that at the back of my mind all the time. Although, when I'm racing, I am concentrating really hard to stay on the bike. I've only fallen off three times in the past 12 years.

"Racing a superbike demands your full attention and, especially when we're racing at speeds of up to 300km/h on some tracks, you've got to do everything just right. I think my mind switches to a sort of 'super-high concentration mode' when I'm racing and I never feel in danger.

"This is a great family sport. All the riders are supposed to be rivals or enemies and we do compete fiercely but, in fact, we're all very close friends off the track.

"I'm certainly keen on doing this all over again next year."

By Andy McGechan

For more motorsport articles go to www.nzherald.co.nz or click here

Paddon wins Otago rally

Hayden Paddon today secured a comprehensive win in the Rally of Otago, the opening round of the New Zealand rally championship.

Paddon took an early lead in the dark of Friday evening and, 270km later, held on to eventually cross the finish ramp first at Dunedin's railway station on Sunday afternoon.

After 15 special stages, Paddon finished one minute 36.9 seconds ahead of defending champion Dean Sumner (Rotorua), who put in a strong performance on the final 47km special stage to reduce Paddon's advantage.

Sumner, in a Mitsubishi, was in an earlier battle with Dunedin local and Subaru driver Emma Gilmour, before an off-road excursion dropped her down the order mid-morning.

Former champion Chris West (Timaru) was third, edging out another former champion in Richard Mason.

While Paddon relinquished some of his overnight Saturday lead, his pace kept him at the head of the day's standings to collect a maximum haul of 128 points, to Sumner's 108 and West's 89.

"It's a great result for the team - definitely," Paddon said. "There were a lot of unknowns coming to an event we know well but with a car we'd never used here.

"So it's been a bit of a rush and we haven't quite got it doing what we want right yet, but already we've got good speed."

Gilmour had made a fine start, securing second spot after Friday night's three night-time special stages.

She continued to run strongly when the rally resumed on Saturday, holding second place behind Paddon until a spin-and-stall on the penultimate stage of the day dropped her to third.

The Dunedin-based driver started Sunday's stages determined to challenge for victory on leg two of the event, but a small error on the third stage of the day cost her dearly.

"We clipped the inside of a bank, and that in turn sent the car sliding off on the other side of the road where it ended up tangled up in a fence," Gilmour said.

She completed the stage with a right-rear puncture, serious rear suspension damage, and several metres of fencing wire trailing behind. Time lost limping to the end of the stage dropped her back a minute behind the front-runners, and Gilmour then had no choice but to incur further time penalties as she limped on to the post-stage service area.

The series now continues with the second of five rounds being based at Hampton Downs on May 7-8. It then moves to Rally Wairarapa on May 28-29, the International Rally of Whangarei (July 15-17) and Rally Hawke's Bay on August 20-21.

To read more articles go to NZ Herald online

Top field lines up for honours in Otago

By Eric Thompson

The opening round of the New Zealand Rally Championship kicks up some dust this weekend at the Rally of Otago.

Yesterday, the 29 competitors completed the opening three stages of the rally.

Fans will be able to watch one of the best fields assembled in years battle it out over 15 stages with the likes of defending champion Dean Sumner, former champions Haddon Paddon, Richard Mason and Chris West and last year's series runner-up Emma Gilmour vying for honours.

Sumner is in the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX that took him to his Gold Star rally championship title, and says he isn't too sure who to keep an eye on.

"Hayden's back from Portugal and in good form, as will be some of the others, but I'm concentrating on the whole championship," he said.

"I'm not sure if he's doing the whole championship, so if he's in front I'm not going to be chasing him down hard."

Paddon starts the Otago event in a Subaru STI, the first time the two-time champion has competed in a different make on New Zealand roads. He's also on a bit of a roll having finished third in last year's Production World Rally Championships and more recently winning the PWRC Rally de Portugal round by a record seven and a half minutes.

"We saw the car for the first time last Friday and have been flat out getting it ready for this weekend," said Paddon.

Former champions and Otago rally winners Richard and Sara Mason, in their Subaru, have battled to overturn the dominance of Mitsubishi drivers in recent years.

Their last title win was in 2006.

"It's been a while, but I feel it could my time again," said Mason.

"The points system has changed and if you don't finish the rally it can cause problems later on. It'll be strange not to push 100 per cent all the time in a rally."

Third seed Gilmour said: "Last year was our first year in the car and it's got better. I love the Otago rally and it's my home event and the roads are great."

West has won the Rally Of Otago four times and was dominating in last year's event until disaster struck a few kilometres from the finish.

"It's good, we're really looking forward to it," said West. "We finished off last year heading in the right direction with the car. Hayden's going to be the one to watch but we have the championship to focus on. At the end of the day, though, we need to be in the window early on."

The NZRC has four championship categories: premier class for Group N four-wheel-drive (4WD) and Super 2000 cars, two-wheel-drive (2WD) class, open 4WD class and the historic class, followed by the remainder of the rally field.

Today, teams go south to Lawrence for five gravel stages, the longest of which is the challenging 45km test through Berwick Forest. The day finishes with the traditional 2.5 km tarmac blast around Dunedin's industrial area.

Tomorrow's six-stage schedule includes some of the event's most popular stages - Kuri Bush, McIntosh Road, Waipori Gorge, and a repeat of the 45 km Berwick stage.

Teams then return to Dunedin for the 3.55pm ceremonial finish at Dunedin railway station.

2011 NZRC Series
* Rally Otago, April 8-10
* Rally New Zealand, Hampton Downs, May 7-8
* Rally Wairarapa, May 28-29
* International Rally of Whangarei, July 15-17
* Rally Hawkes Bay, August 20-21.

www.nzrallychampionship.co.nz

By Eric Thompson

For more articles go to NZ Herald online

In-form Paddon set for Otago rally

New Zealand's top driver Hayden Paddon heads to this weekend's Rally of Otago aiming to polish his skills for his international campaign.

Fresh from victory in the Rally of Portugal, his first round in the production world rally championship (PWRC) a fortnight ago, Paddon will pilot a similar Subaru for the opening round of the national championship.

"There are several benefits for us in being able to run a very similar Subaru in New Zealand to the car we are now running in the PWRC with our Europe-based team, Symtech," the Geraldine driver said.

"Going into this event, we're also testing new things which came from Possum Bourne Motorsport. All this adds to our learning and hopefully our on-the-road performance."
Paddon, a double national champion, feels Friday's three night stages near Dunedin added a new challenge.

"I have done only a little bit of night rallying a few years ago, so that's going to be something relatively new.

"It's kind of like driving in a tunnel and the pace notes have to be spot on."
Paddon is seeded second number behind defending New Zealand champion Dean Sumner, of Rotorua.

Paddon, whose win in Portugal was the by the biggest margin ever in the PWRC class - seven minutes, 39.3 seconds - is not expected to have everything his own way this weekend.
Besides Sumner, Masterton's former national champion Richard Mason and Christchurch's Chris West will throw up serious challenges along with Emma Gilmour, of Hamilton.
Mason and West are among the few drivers at the rally who have experience of its night stages.
Gilmour, third overall in the 2009 championship and runner-up last year, is targeting a good start to her season.

"We have lifted our game in each of the past two years and it's time to do so again," said Gilmour, who is seeded third for this rally.

"I am aiming, again, to be on rally-winning pace. This weekend we will see if all the hard yards the team and I have put into preparing for the year pays off."
After Friday's three night stages just south and west of Dunedin, the focus of the event shifts to the former goldfields town of Lawrence for four stages on Saturday morning followed by a tarmac super special stage in the afternoon.

Sunday's route includes repeats of some stages used on the Friday and Saturday, as well as three further stages, all in the hills either side of the Taieri Plains.

After Otago, the championship continues with Rally New Zealand based at Hampton Downs on May 7-8, Rally Wairarapa on May 28-29, the International Rally of Whangarei on July 16-17 and Rally Hawke's Bay on August 20-21.

To view more articles go to NZ Herald online

Rally New Zealand’s high octane sideshow

This year Rally New Zealand’s top level rallying action is complemented by an exhilarating ‘sideshow’ called ‘High Octane on Hampton’.
 
“Actually it’s more like sideshow on steroids!” says Peter (PJ) Johnston, chairman of Rally New Zealand’s organising committee.
 
“Our High Octane on Hampton is one of the must-see motorsport events of the year!
 
“Not only do we have one of the strongest, most competitive line-ups for the New Zealand Rally Championship field battling for top honours during the two day rally, running alongside are two days of exciting action at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park designed to appeal to a wide range of motorsport fans,” says Johnston.

 
The event is based at Hampton Downs, midway between Auckland and Hamilton, where fans can watch a continuous array of motorsport over the weekend of 7 and 8 May with rally cars using the race track for three super special stages and full-on race action from muscle cars, Formula 5000s and several classic classes.
 
“The high octane aspect of the weekend reaches a new level with the first-ever Gymkhana X skidpan battle ever run in New Zealand,” says Johnston. “It pits top class rally drivers against the best from the world of drifting in a Ken Block-style all-out, high-speed take on the technical art of gymkhana driving. Drivers vie to set the fastest time around a course on Hampton Downs’ new skidpan – it’s going to be intense, exciting and a great spectacle to watch. We’ve got some super talented guys confirmed, like Andrew Hawkeswood, Clark Proctor, Robert van Gisbergen and our NZRC sponsor Neil Allport up against D1NZ star Carl Ruiteman and others.”
 
The Gymkhana X runs on Sunday 8 May, alongside drifting demonstrations from Kiwi stars like Mad Mike Whiddett, an extreme angle competition for the drifters, a lot more on-track race action and a final run of the rally cars’ super special stage. Fans can also battle their rally heroes in the GT5 virtual rally competition and check out some great displays.
 
Rally New Zealand includes the NZRC competitors, the Smartwood by Alpwood Possum Bourne Memorial Rally field as well as the new Rally New Zealand Historic Rally. Entries are now open and more details will be made available on these fields.
 
Johnston says tickets are priced to make the weekend affordable. “An adult pass on Saturday is $10 and on Sunday $25. Parking is free at the circuit, children under 12 also have free entry when accompanied by a paying adult and there’s great viewing for everyone around the circuit.
 
“Motorsport fans can see popular drivers like Emma Gilmour and Richard Mason in action on-track at Hampton, some of the world’s best drifters like Mad Mike courtesy of Red Bull and see an all-new event, the Gymkhana X. It’s going to be an amazing weekend!”
 
Fans can sign up for regular newsletters via the event’s website, www.rallynz.org.nz, and also keep up with the latest news via Rally New Zealand’s Facebook page.
 

Hampton Downs March Newsletter